tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025651162254792506.post6298772215469072288..comments2024-03-24T18:05:27.769+11:00Comments on Ian Fraser, talking naturally: Musing on EmusIan Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01023900823785041354noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025651162254792506.post-2126169890201703722013-04-08T12:27:40.380+10:002013-04-08T12:27:40.380+10:00Curious one about emu feathers deflecting bullets ...Curious one about emu feathers deflecting bullets - I hadn't come across it. Sadly for the emus it isn't true... If anything I might expect the 'non-zipped' feathers to be more penetrable, but I don't suppose it makes much difference to a bullet. There's no doubt that emus are tough however, and could doubtless carry a bullet for some distance if it didn't lodge somewhere critical. Regarding Hardheads, Harry Frith in 'Waterfowl of Australia' said “owing to a very dense plumage and apparently great stamina, [it] is hard to kill”. But as you say, a hunter with limited skills will take any excuse as offered...Ian Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01023900823785041354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9025651162254792506.post-20895891187373236182013-04-05T20:39:35.744+11:002013-04-05T20:39:35.744+11:00The colonial legend in the UK when I was growing u...The colonial legend in the UK when I was growing up - possibly Arthur Mee's "Childrens Newspaper", possibly The Beano - was that the breast feathers of the Emu were so well sculpted that they deflected the bullets. <br /><br />On the other hand I have heard it said that Hardheads were so named because the duck hunters rarely hit them, claiming the shot bounced off. <br /><br />Perhaps in both cases the shooters were just lousy shots?<br /><br />MartinFlabmeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934077052437339591noreply@blogger.com