The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-06
HUMAN INCUBATORS.
How Some Emu Eggs Were Saved and Some
Hens Eggs Were Hatched.

How Some Emu Eggs Were Saved and Some
Hens Eggs Were Hntched.
Among the latest acquisitions of the Or
astrological department in the museum OF
natural history at South Kensington is
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 Of
25 years, says Miss Gordon Cumming in the
columns of a contemporary, having been
brought from the antipodes, and their sue
eessive 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 bull
locks having broken into the emu's paddock
and chased him, even following him into
his shed. The poor bird probably died
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
clared that the emu's approach frightened
his horses. The other eye suffered in sym.
patty.
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 sicken.
His compassionate mistress brought dain-
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 off 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.
There, beneath the bird, were all the miss
ing gallipots!
The conscientious emu, convinced that
he ought to be fulfilling his destiny by
Matching some eggs, and having no wife to
lay any for him, had substituted the nice,
smooth, round jars which he had distracted
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
havei" So he made the most of what he
could get.
i An amusing story is told concerning a
setting of six or seven emu's eggs laid in
Berkshire. The father, having set 6iligent-
| ly 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 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's-an enthusiastic lady took them
4 into ner nice wurm Deu, 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 France,
halted at a 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 bodyl So there he lay with half 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 aad half shyl OF course, in this case
the eggs were those of common domestic
towls.-Mancheste Times