A FIGHT WITH AN EMU.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1233, 16 October 1885, Page 3

A FIGHT WITH AN EMU.

| A Boniewhnt dr >ll Went happened to one of the empioye/at the boring camp on the S.iiverto/ road, which, says the ‘ Western Grasier ’ (S ,S. W), is best told in the liarrator's own words :—“ I observed (le say )an emu about a quarter of a uile from the cathp, followed bv aclutth of chickens, and went towards the bids fired with a desire to capture some *f the chicks. As 1 approached the brool the mother ran away, as I th u Iff for good. I gave chase and can,bo two of the young ones, and was about to return to the camp when 1 heard a guttural clucking close behind me, and siw the parent bird com! ig at full speed. It is needless to say J dropped the chickens and ran, but I might as well have stood my ground. In a few seconds I was overtaken by the birl, who, in bush parlance. “ went for ” me without any ceremony. Then commenced a scene which musthavebcen excessively ludicrous, though it was also serious fora time. I grasped the bird by the neck and shouted lustily for help, and fortunately, my dilemma being ob served from the camp, assistance was promptly at hand. Meanwhile the bird and I were rolling over each other-one up and the other down alternately ; my vest, shirt, and flannel were torn to tatters, and I was considerably bruised about the body. As so in as my rescuer arrived he seized the bird by the neck. It at once turned on tko newcomer, and in an in -titant both were engaged in mortal combat. The scene was so extremely ludicrous that for a few seconds I was convulsed with laughter before I could go to the aid of my rescuer, when after by'a no means easy struggle we sue needed in strapping the bird’s legs. The emuprescated a truly extraordinary aspect, being denuded of near'y all its feathers , and I need scarcely say that both my friend and myself presented an equally grotesque appearance after the battle, our clothes being reduced to tatters I may add iu conclusion that my penchant for emu chicks whilst the parent bird is in attendance no longer exists.”