800 



THE AFTER YX. 



pulling do-WTi and breaking in pieces almost auv hard substance. It 

 strikes, in a very dangerous manner with its feet, either behind or 

 before, at any object which ofl'ends it. 



In a wild state these birds lay three or four eggs at a time, and 

 these are generally of a greenish or greyish color, beautifully spotted 

 with grass green, and marked towards their smaller end with white. 

 The fcinale deposits them in the san<l, and, after having covered tliem 

 over, leaves them to be hatched by the heat of the sun and the 

 atmosphere. In some countries, however, and under some circum- 

 .«i:iiiees, Cassowaries sit upon their eggs like other birds. 



Cassowaries are found only in the southeastern parts of Asia ; that 

 iw, in the peninsula of India beyond the Ganges, and in the islands of 

 the Indian Archipelago ; but they are not very numerous in any of 

 these places. The deep forests of the island of Ceram, along the 

 southern coast f-om Ethiopia almost to Kelemori, contain, however, 

 great numbers of them. 



TUE E.MU. 



The Emu is a native of New ITolland, and neany equals the 0>;trieh 

 in bulk, its height being between five and six feet. Its feathers lie 

 looselv on the body, and its wings are small and hardly to be dis- 

 tinguished. The skin of the Enui furnisiies a bright and clear oil, on 

 which aecouut it is ea<rerlv sousjht after. 



THE APTERYX. 



Tliis extraordinary bird, whose name is derived from tne apparent 

 absence of wings, those mem- 

 bers being merely rudimentary, 

 inhabits the islands of New 

 Zealand. It conceals itself 

 among the densest fern, and 

 when hunted by dogs, it hastens 

 to seek a refuge among rocks 

 and in the chambers which it 

 excavates in the earth. In these 

 chambers its nest is made and 

 the eggs laid. The natives hunt 

 it with great eagernes.s, as the 

 skin is used for the dresses of chiefs, who are so tenacious of them 

 that they can hardly be persuaded to part with a single skin, 'i'he 

 feathers are emjiloyed to make artificial flie.s. When attacked it 

 defends itself by rapid and vigorous strokes with its powerful feet. 



Dr. Shaw first brought this bird before the notice of the public, but 

 for many years naturalists considered it an extinct species. Latterly 

 the question has been set at rest, not only by the researches of Gould 

 and other naturalists, but by the arrival in England of several skiua 



TB8 APTERTX. 



