The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-02
liu.,kN INCuBATORs.
How some Emu Eggs Were Saved and some
Hens Eggs Were Hatched.


Among the latest acquisitions Of the or
astrological department in the museum OF
natural history at South Kcnsington is n .
very handsome emu in perfect plumage, .
presented by the Rev George keightley, /
vicar of Stambridge, in Essex, to whom the /
museum was already indebted for another /
fine specimen of these strange Australian .
birds Both had been pets for upward oil
% years, says Miss Gordon Cumming in the
columns of n contemporary, having been
brought from the autipodes, and their sue
cessive deaths have been somewhat in the
nature of family bereavements. The first
died from natural causes, but the last was
due to an unfortunate accident, some bul-
locks having broken into the emu's paddock
aud chased him, even following him into
his shed. The poor bird probably dled
partly from terror. The emu is naturally
very timid, and this one was almost blind,
AS one eye had been destroyed by clod of
earth thrown at him by carter, who de
clarcd that the emu's approach frightened
his horses The other eye suffered in sym
pathy.
A curious incident in the life of this
lonely bird is worth recording. The death
of his companion left him very diSconso-
late, and after awhile he seemed to sickcn.
His compassionate mistress brought dam
ties to tempt his appetite, also daily jar
of water. Again and again she remon-
strated against some tiresome or cruel I'M
known person who always carried oil the
Jar, leaving the poor bird without water
Finally Mr.. Emu retired into his shed,
folded up his long legs and sat down, ut
terly refusing to come out till his master,
convinced that the bright sunshine would
do him good, lifted him out by main force.
Ia hipl "A
ing gallipotsl
The conscientious emu, convinced that
he ought to be fulfilling his destiny by
Matching some eggs, and having no VIE to
lay any for him, had substituted the nice,
smooth, round jars 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 like, we must like what we
have." SO he made the most of what he
could get.
An amusing story is told concerning a
setting of six or seven emu's eggs LAID IN
Berkshire. The father, having set Cillgent
Nv for six weeks, unfortunately died just q
week before the chicks were Matched. Ar
rangements 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 lestthey 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's-an enthusiastic lady took then
into her nice warm bed, and there re
manned, mothering them till the last mo
!, ment before the train started which con
l veyed them to the ZOO, where they wer
duly Matched n few days later.
{ That lady's devotion reminds me of VIVA
was told me by another lady, who when re
: Gently travelling in the south of France
halted ut "A farm where the careful peasan
wife thus utilized her fat, bedrldden hus
e band who was SO unweidy as to be unabl
to turn in bed. By alternate scolding AM
coaXing she persuaded him TODD duty rs nj
!; incubator and to lie very still, matching
i eggs for market by the natural warmth o
his body! So there he lay with half dozel
eggs under each arm, afraid to make til
slightest movement, and thus he had actu
= ally succeeded in Matching several Convey
I an achievement of which he was hal
-, proud and half shyl OF course, in this cas-
u the eggs were those of common domesti
i fowls.-Mancheste Times.