The Descent of Man

the emus (Dromoeus irroratus) is considerably
larger than the male, and she possesses a slight
top-knot, but is otherwise indistinguishable in
plumage. She appears, however, "to have greater
power, when angry or otherwise excited, of
erecting, like a turkey-cock, the feathers of her
neck and breast. She is usually the more courageous
and pugilistic. She makes a deep hollow
guttural boom especially at night, sounding
like a small gong. The male has a slenderer
frame and is more docile, with no voice beyond
a suppressed hiss when angry, or a croak." He
not only performs the whole duty of incubation,
but has to defend the young from their
mother; "for as soon as she catches sight of her
progeny she becomes violently agitated, and
notwithstanding the resistance of the father
appears to use her utmost endeavours to destroy
them. For months afterwards it is unsafe to
put the parents together, violent quarrels being
the inevitable result, in which the female generally
comes off conqueror." (23. See the exce-