42 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



line of the helmet. It is interesting to remark that the two species most distant in 

 space, and which both occur outside of the Papuan fauna strictly, viz., the Casuarius 

 casuarius (or rjaleatus) from Ceram, and C. aastralis from northern Australia, are 

 very nearly related and rather difficult to distinguish. 



Of the latter species we have an excellent life-history by Mr. E. P. Ramsay, from 

 whom the following account, which will also serve for the other species, is borrowed : 

 One of the chief objects of my visit to Rockingham Bay was to become acquainted 

 with the habits of this noble bird. While in Brisbane on my way up, I found that 

 several very young cassowaries had been obtained, and, for the first time, a nest and 

 eggs had been found. This was great news ; and I need not relate how I made all 

 haste for the Herbert-River Police Camp, where I was most hospitably entertained and 

 welcomed by Inspector Johnstone, who was the first to rediscover and bring under 

 the notice of others the existence of this remarkable species. 



The Australian cassowary is a denizen of the dense dark scrubs scattered over the 

 district of Rockingham Bay, northeastern Queensland, and extending as far north as 

 the Endeavour River. It was tolerably plentiful only a few years ago even in the 

 neighborhood of Cardwell ; but since the advent of sugar-planters, c., on the Herbert 

 River and adjacent creeks, these fine birds have been most ruthlessly shot down and 

 destroyed for the sake of their skins, several of which I saw used for hearth-rugs and 

 door-mats. Formerly, they were easily enough procured ; but latterly, so wary have 

 they become, and their numbers so decreased, that it is only with the greatest amount 

 of patience even a stray shot can be obtained. I know of no bird so wary and timid. 

 During the day they remain in the most dense parts of the scrubs, wandering about 

 the sides of the watercourses and creeks, diving in through the bushes and vines at 

 the slightest noise. Towards evening and early in the morning they usually visit their 

 favorite feeding-trees, such as the native figs, Leichardt-tree, and various species of 

 Acrnena, Jambosa, Davidsonia^ etc. ; they appear to be particularly fond of the 

 astringent fruit of the Leichardt-trees, and of a species of Mdranta, which produced 

 bunches of large seed-pods filled with juicy pulp, resembling in appearance the inside 

 of a ripe passion-fruit (Passiflora edalis). Fruit and berries of all kinds are eagerly 

 sought after ; the tame semi-adult bird which I had became so fond of the fruit of 

 the cape-mulberry that he would allow no one to come near the tree he had taken 

 possession of. This bird had frequently devoured at a time as much as three quarts 

 of Moquats' (fruit of Eriobotria japonica), and several fair-sized oranges whole, 

 besides its usual amount of bread per diem (about three fwunds). In nature I found 

 that in the afternoons they frequently came out and walked along the scrubs, or along 

 the side of the river or creek, and swallowed large quantities of pebbles and small 

 rough-edged stones. In confinement, plantains and sweet potatoes (in large pieces 

 which they can swallow whole) are a favorite food, while nothing seems to come 

 amiss to them grasshoppers, spiders, earth-worms, cockroaches, caterpillars of all 

 kinds, dough, and even raw meat. In confinement they become very tame. If disap- 

 pointed or teased, they not unfrequently "show fight" by bristling up their feathers, 

 and kicking out sideways or in front with force sufficient to knock a strong man down 

 a feat I have witnessed on more than one occasion. These birds arc very powerful, 

 and dangerous to approach when wounded. On more than one occasion a wounded 

 bird has caused a naturalist to take to a tree ; the sharp nail of the inner toe is a most 

 dangerous weapon, quite equal to the claw of a large kangaroo, and capable of doing 

 quite as much execution. 



