Randy Hall, age 8, of Nashville, Tennessee, for his question:

What is an emu?

The emu is a long legged bird who stands five feet tall and is the second biggest bird in the world. The world's biggest bird is the ostrich of Africa. He stands seven, and sometimes eight, feet tall. The emu belongs to Australian coats of arms with a picture of kangaroo. The emu is too big and too bulky to fly, but he is a swift runner and a splendid swimmer. His fluffy, ostrich type feathers are drab, brownish gray. But his newly hatched youngsters wear soft, drab colored fuzz gaily marked with greenish stripes.

The emus of Australia live mostly on the plains. Groups of friends and relatives  travel together in herds through most of the year. At nesting, couples pair off and  the herd disbands until the youngsters are fairly well grown. The nest is a hollow  in the ground and Mrs. Emu lays maybe 12 big, greenish black eggs. Then Mr. Emu  drives her away. He sits on the precious eggs for about two months until they hatch.  Then the proud father begins the job of feeding and educating his pprightly chicks.