Emu

[Beryana]

Originally posted by aopirose
Yeah, Beryana, that is definitely a location joke but I am sure that it is as funny as all get out.

BTW - I wasn't sure if you were referring to emus being extinct. If you were, I can say without a doubt that they are not. There are many emu associations throughout the US that are trying to showcase the benefits of the bird. The meat is pretty good but the oil is more valuable. They, the industry, say that it is good for everything from dry skin to arthritis. Sometimes the hides don't tan well because of the oil ducts but it is still a fine leather. It's just difficult to find a tannery who will work with it. The empty eggs, which are dark green, make beautiful odds & ends too. You can have decorated eggs a la Faberge or even purses. The feathers are valuable too but ostrich plumes are the most valuable. Rheas are the other birds in this flightless class. Their eggs are yellow and the smaller of the three.

And this is why I'm a historian and not in zoology! Give me dusty books and artefacts (not dusty of course because that's just bad!) and I'm happy. Most things about natural sciences I'm clueless!

Thanks for the correction.