GRALLATOllI^. 365 



pounds, which, in very hot climates, it is contented with expos- 

 ing in the sand to the warmth of the sun, but over which, out 

 of the tropics, it broods with great care, defending them cou- 

 rageously every where. The Ostrich feeds on grass, grain, Sec, 

 and so obtuse is its sense of taste that it swallows pebbles, pieces 

 of iron, copper, 8cc. When pursued it dashes stones behind 

 it with great violence. No animal can overtake it in the race. 

 Struth. rhea, L.;(l) Nandou, Churi, &c., Hammer. An. Mus. 

 XII, xxxixj Vieill. Galer. 224. (The American Ostrich.) Is 

 about one half smallei', with more thinly furnished feathers, of 

 a uniform grey colour, and particularly distinguished by its 

 three toes, all having nails. Its plumage is greyish, browner 

 on the back: a black line along the back of the neck in the male. 

 It is as common in the southern parts of South America, as the 

 preceding one is in Africa. When taken young, it is easily 

 tamed. . Several females, it is said, lay in the same nest, or 

 rather the same hole, yellowish eggs, which are hatched by the 

 male. It is only eaten when very young. 



Casuarius, Briss. 



The Cassowaries have wings still shorter than those of the Ostrich, 

 and totally useless, even in running. There are three toes to all the 

 feet, each furnished with a nailj the barbs of their feathers are so 

 poorly provided with barbulse, that at a distance they resemble pen- 

 dent hairs. Two species are known, each of which might also con- 

 stitute a genus. 



Stnithio casuarius, h.; Umeu,(2) Enl. 313, and better Frisch, 

 105.(3) (The Cassowary.) The beak laterally compressed; 

 head surmounted by a bony prominence, covered with a horny 

 substance; skin of the head and top of the neck naked, of an 

 azure-blue and a fiery red colour, with pendent caruncles like 

 those of the Turkey; some stiff stems in the wings, without barbs, 

 which the bird uses as weapons in combat; nail of the internal 

 toe much the strongest. It is the largest of all birds, next to 

 the Ostrich, and differs considerably from it in its anatomy, for 



(1) Brisson and Buffon, following- Barrere, have improperly applied to it the 

 name of Touyou, or rather of Touiouiou, which belongs to the Jabiru. It is the 

 genus Ekea of Brisson. The Portuguese of Brazil have transferred to it the name 

 of Emeu, which properly belongs to the Cassowary. 



(2) Cassuwarisy the Malay name of this bird. Erne, or Emeu, its peculiar appel- 

 lation In Banda. 



(3) There is also an excellent figure of it by Marechal in the Menag. du Mus. 

 copied Vieill. Galer. pi. 225. 



