TliK CASSOWATIY. 457 



kicking backwards at the enemy. Cuvier observes, that the featherless quills serve the 

 emeu for oflbnsive weapons. Eontius remarks, that the eg-gs arc very different from those of 

 the ostrich, by reason of their thinness and colour ; for their shell is greenish, ornamented 

 with numerous tubercles of a deeper green. 



The emeu is fomid in the peninsula of Mahicua, and the great chain of islands to the 

 south and east. Bontius notes it from Ceram and the other neighbouring Molucca 

 islands. And, according to Lesson, it is vcrj"^ common in the islands of the Asiatic 

 Archipelago, and especially at 'New Guinea. Cuvier relates that the bird lays a small 

 number of green eggs, which it abandons, like the ostrich, to the heat of the climate. 



THE CASSOWARY.* 



This bird is stated by travellers to attain a height of more than seven feet, and its 

 average in captivity may be estimated at between five and six. In form it closely 

 resembles the ostrich, but is lower in the legs, shorter in the neck, and of a more thickset 

 and clumsy make. At a distance, its feathers have more the appearance of hair than 

 of plumage. 



In a state of nature, this bird is very fleet, and affords much sport in coursing with 

 dogs, which are, however, shy of their game, in consequence of the painful kicks which 

 the bird can inflict. So powerful are they, according to the settlers, that the bird can 

 break a man's leg by striking out with its feet. Well-trained dogs, therefore, to avoid 

 this infliction, run up abreast, and make a sudden spring at the neck of the bird. 



Though the cassowary has bred so frequently in captivit}', the mode of making the 

 nest in the wild state does not appear to be well known. It is generallj' supposed to be 

 a mere hollow excavated in the earth. The dark green eggs are six or seven in number. 

 The birds appear to be tolerably constant in pairing, and the male bird sits and hatches 

 the young, whilst the female watches and guards the nest. 



These birds will take water. Captain Sturt, when descending the Murrumbidgee, in 

 Australia, saw two of them in the act of swimming. They appear to be gregarious, and 

 not very shy in some localities. Major Mitchell, in his excursion towards Port Phillip, 

 found them very numerous on the open downs, and their curiosity brought them to stare 

 at the horses of the party, apf)arently unconscious of the presence of the riders. In one 

 flock he counted thirty-nine, and they came so near, that the traveller, having no rifle 

 with him, discharged a pistol at them, but without effect. 



The body of the cassowary is very heavy ; and its wings are so short that it has no 

 power to raise itself from the ground in flight. The quills of which the wings are 

 composed are five in number ; they are strong, distinct fi'om each other, and without 

 barbs. The beak is about five inches long, of a very hard substance, and somewhat 

 curved. There is a bony protuberance, covered with horn, and of a blackish-brown 

 colour, on the to^ of the head. The skin of the head and neck is entirely naked ; it is of 

 a fine blue colour above and red below. On each side of the front of the neck hangs a 

 long light blue wattle. The body is covered with black feathers, which, at a little 

 distance, appear like hairs. So long are those on the hinder part of the back, that they 

 entireh- conceal the tail. The thighs are covered with feathers almost to the knees. 

 The legs are remarkably stout ; the toes of each foot are only three in number ; and the 

 nail of each internal toe is about twice the length of any of the others. 



A cassowary that was kept, some years ago, in the menagerie at Paris, devoured every 

 day between three and four pounds weight of bread, six or seven apples, and a bunch of 



' Dromaius Novie HoUandioe. 



