A HATCHING CONTEST

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22484, 19 August 1938, Page 12

A HATCHING CONTEST

♦ EMUS AT WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND NORTHERN MALE SITTING ON FOURTEEN EGGS [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, August 18. That the male emu at the Wellington zoo is at present sitting on six large blue-green eggs, contributed by its mate, does not impress the Auckland zoo authorities. For several weeks now, they point out, the Auckland zoo’s male bird has been sitting on 14 equally large and equally blue-green eggs. If the eggs remain fertile, the zoq should possess a brood of young emus ■in about three weeks. No unseemly behaviour similar to that which occurred at Wellington took place when the Auckland male accepted his share of the duties of parenthood from his mate. He did not kick her out of house or home, or in any way damage her plumage; but just went on with the job of brooding in a quiet, placid way. He did not even object to the fact that he was expected to produce a family of 14. There has been no necessity to place the parents in different enclosures, as has been the. case m Wellington. The female remains in the same run, and occasionally exhibits her interest in things to come by a critical survey of her lord and master. In no way does she interfere with the work in hand nor is she molested by the male bird. It appears that, the breeding of the Auckland and Wellington emu families is developing into an annual competition. Last year the Auckland female laid eight eggs, three of which were hatched. Two chiCKS were weaklings, and died almost immediately. The third, a healthy bird, was subsequently killed, presumably by a stoat. After sitting on approximately the same number of eggs; the Wellington male bird hatched two; but it is not known in Auckland whether they survived. The male bird at the Auckland zoo was imported from Australia as a young bird about two years ago. The female was reared at Auckland about five years ago.

WELLINGTON ENTRANT ONE SURVIVOR FROM LAST CLUTCH , ■ ‘ / [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, August 18. Of the two chicks hatched last year by the Wellington emu, one has survived, and grown into a fine healthy bird. The other met with an accident a few days after hatching, and died. Although the Wellington emu sits on fewer eggs, it has so far a much higher average of successful achievement, as it curbs its ambition, and does not aim at more than it is able to accomplish.