396 



CASUAFUID.K. 



young, were very vicious, and succeeded in wounding a couple of tlie dogs. They use the beak 

 as well as kicking when at bay, but the shots fired at the young ones frightened the old birds 

 oil. The stranj^e thing about them is, that wlien surprised by dogs near water, they will 

 immediately wade right out up to their necks. The only sound I have e\'er heard them make 

 is, when at bay, they utter a sort of druming hiss. Tlicir food consists chiefly of large berries 

 and nuts, which they swallow whole. They are very fond of the fruit of the Black Palm, the 

 large seed of which does not seem to worry them. I have only seen one nest, but it did not 

 contain any eggs." 



AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY. 



The above figure is reproduced from the original photograph of the type taken by the late 

 Mr. Henry Barnes, Australian Museum. 



Mr. A. F. Smith, writing me from Hambledon Mill, near Cairns, North-eastern Queensland, 

 said : — " A man came to the mill to-day and asked if any one wanted a Cassowary ; he has one 

 which, he' says, eats his chickens whenever it gets the chance. I have seen Dacelo leachi swallow 

 small birds, but did not know that Cassowaries did the same." 



Mr. Thos. P. Austin wrote as follows from Cobborah Station, Cobbora, New South Wales: — • 

 " There is probably much yet to be learnt of the habits of Cmnartus amtralis. Most writers 



