Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-09
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B~w ssws Eaz Eggs We're Saved ana 1suno
Hess EExs Were HAseAsA
Among the latest acquisitions Of the q.
astrological department. in the museum Of
natural history a. South Kensingfnn - .
very handsome emu ia perfect plum2ge.
presented By the Rev. George keightiey,
vicar Of Ssarbridg~, 10 Essex, To whom the
uusru..s Was already indebted for another
fine specimen Of these strange AUSTRALIAN
birds Both had been pets for upward OF
Is wears. says Miss Gordon Cumming In the
columns Of q contemporary, having been
brought from the ansipodes, and their sue
eessive deaths have been somewhat In the
nature of family bereayements- The first
died fnpm natural causes, but the Last was
due to an unfortunate accident, some bul
locks having broken into the efnuis paddock
and chased him, even following him into
his shed. The poor bird probably died
partly from terror. The emu Is naturally
very rirnid. and this ole was almost blind.
a. one eye had been destroyed by eiod Of
earth thrown at him by 3 carter, who de
ciared that the emu's approach frightened
his horses The other eye suffered Ia SYN
pathy-
A curious incident in the life of this
lonely bird Is worth recording. The death
of his cam panion left him very disconso-
LATE, and after awhile he seemed TO sicksn-
His compassionate mistress brought dam
ties 10 tempt his appetite, also daily jan
Of water. Again and again she renion-
strated against some tiresogne or cruel un-
known persoa who always carried OF the
jar, leaving the poor bird without water
Finally Mr.. Emu retired into his shed.
folded up his long legs and sat down, ut
terry refusing to come out till his master.
convinced that the bright sunshine would
do him good, lifted him cut by main force.
There, beneath the bird, were all the miss
ing galiipots,
The conscientious emu, convinced that
he ought to be fulfilling his destiny by
Matching some egl;, and having no wife to
lay any for him, I'D substituted the nice.
smooth. round jan which he had abstracted
day by day. OF course his wife's eggs
would have been dark green, but, as the
French philosopher said. when We have
not what we ike, We must like what We
hayeE" So he made the most OF what he
could get.
An amusing stCry is told concerning a
setting Of six or even emu's eggs laid in
berkshire. The father, having set 'iligtnt-
ly for six weeks, unfortunately died just a
week before the chicks were Matched. Ar
engagements were made by telegraph for the
transfer Of the eggs to the care Of another
emu in the geological gardens in London,
but there was grave anxiety lest they should
cool in the interval ere the foster father was
ready to receive them. As no patent incu-
bator was available suitable for such huge
eggs--they are about the size OF an os-
trich' San enthusiastic lady took them
into her nice warm bed, and there re
manned, mothering them till the last mo-
ment before the train started which con
veyed them to the zoo, where they were
duly Matched few days later.
That lady's devotion reminds me OF what
was told me by another lady, who when re-
Gently travelling in the south OF trnnce,
halted at farm where the careful peasant
wife thus utilized her fat, bedridden hus-
band, who was so unwieldy as to be unable
| to turn in bed. BY alternate scolding and
coaxing she persuaded him TODD duty as an
| incubator and to lie very still, Matching
| eggs for market by the natural warmth OF
his body! So there he lay with half a dozen
eggs under each arm. afraid to make the
| slightest movement, and thus he had actu-
ally succeeded in Matching several coveys
an achievement of which he was hall
proud and half shy! OF course, in this case
the eggs were those Of common domestic
| fowh.-Manchester Times.