the back, two down the side, and two interrupted stripes down the fore part of the neck and breast.

Timid and peaceful, the emeu trusts alone to its speed for safety, excepting indeed when hard pressed; it then strikes violently with its legs: it is chased with dogs. We learn from Mr. Cunningham, that few dogs, except such as are specially trained, can be brought to attack it, both on account of some peculiar odour in the flesh which they dislike, and, because when driven to extremity, it defends itself with great vigour, striking out with its feet, and inflicting terrible wounds. The settlers, he observes, assert that "it will break the small bone of a man's leg by this sort of kick."

Though these birds are shy and wary, they take but little pains in the concealment of their nest, which is very simple, consisting of a few sticks, leaves, and grasses, scraped together upon a clear space amidst brushwood. The natives seek for the eggs, which during the season form a great portion of their subsistence. The food of this bird consists of leaves, fruits, and herbage, for the plucking of which its straight strong beak, which is rounded at the point, is well adapted."

Though the emeu is not an aquatic bird, yet it has been observed by Captain Sturt to swim well, as he saw it thus cross the Murrumbidgee River.

There seems no doubt but that if desired, the emeu might easily become naturalized in this country, so as to form an ornament in parks and pleasure grounds.

AXIS DEER.

THIS is a very elegant animal of the deer kind, and a native of India. It is perhaps one of the best-known of all the Indian species of the family among us; for it not only is able to be kept in our menageries or zoological gardens, but thrives well in open parks.

It is very plentiful in various parts of India, being found on the banks of the River Ganges, and in the province of Bengal, as also in many of the larger islands which compose the Indian Archipelago. There "it lives in herds, the luxuriant vegetation of the jungles, its favourite localities, affording abundance of food.

The

The general colour of this species is fawn yellow, a black stripe running down the spine of the back. sides are beautifully and regularly spotted with white: a row, forming an almost continuous line, passes along each side."

In all the different species of deer that comprise what is called the Axine group, the limbs are of a delicate form and slender make, and the general shape is rather graceful than robust. Few of them exceed our common fallow deer in size, and, excepting as regards the antlers, the axis deer bears a very strong resemblance to it, especially the female, so much so indeed as to be scarcely distinguishable on a superficial inspection. "The hair is short, smooth, and close; the expression of the physiognomy is gentle, yet animated, and agrees with the disposition.'

In captivity, these deer are quiet and inoffensive, but timid and suspicious. Their sense of smell is so acute

that, although fond of bread, which they readily take from the hands of visiters, they will not touch it if it have been previously blown upon; and it is stated that they will not even accept it, if it have been much handled. The horns of the male axis deer rise vertically from the head, but differ from those of the fallow deer in being perfectly cylindrical and rounded throughout, and not at all palmated, as those of the latter are at the tip. The spots also on the fur of the animal do not change in the winter, and the head is a little longer in shape.