ON TllK KAHLY IllSTOKV OK 'IMIK AUSTKAMAN 

 CASSOWARY (CASrjh'irs AfSririLIS, Wall). 



By Ai,n;Ki. .1. Nokth, C.M.Z.S., C.M.B.O.U., Ofiiitlioloo-ist.. 



(I'lates viii-ix.) 



CamniriK.-! Kiitifnills was the only avi-fauiial type secured 

 during Kennedy's ill-fated expedition in 1848, from Rocking- 

 ham Bay to Cape York, when so many valuable lives were 

 lost. Sinofularly enough its early history is associated with 

 the second, third and fourtli Curators of the Australian 

 Museum,^ which was the fii'st Institution to receive a specimen. 



For my purj)ose it will be necessary to transcribe the 

 following extracts relating to Cn^iiKri it>; inisfridls. 



The existence of a Cassowary inhabiting Australia was first 

 made known in 1849 by the late Mr. Wm. Carron, Botanist to 

 the Kennedy Expedition, who remarks in his " Narrative " i" 

 November 4th (1848): — " Tliis morning Jackey went to 

 examine a scrub through which we wanted to pass, and while 

 out, shot a fine Cassowary ; it was very dark and heavj", not 

 so long in the leg as the common Emu, and had a larger body, 

 shorter neck, witli a large i-ed, stiff, horny comb on its lieacl ; 

 Mr. Wall skinned it, but fi'om the many difficulties with which 

 he had to contend, the skin was spoiled before it could l)e 

 properly preserved." 



Referring to this specimen the following is the gist of 

 Gould's remarks in his "Handbook to the Birds of Australia"^ 

 undei' the name of ('<i>iin(rliis inisfniJis^.WaW. "All that we at 

 present know on the subject is comprised in the following 

 extract from the 'Illustrated Sydney Herald' of the 3rd June, 



'—The first Curator of the Australian Museum, 1838-45 was the 

 Rev. William Branthwaite Clarke, M.A., the " Father of Australian 

 Geoloj»y," Rector of St, Thomas Church of England, North Sydney, 

 1846-70 and Elective Trustee of the Australian Museum, 1853-74. 

 (R.E.) 



la Carron — Narrative of an Expedition undertaken under the 

 direction of the late Mr. Assistant Surveyor E. B. Kennedy for the 

 Exploration of the Country lyinj^ between Rockingham Bay and 

 Cape York, 1849, p. 64. 



- Gould— Handbook Bds. Austr., 1865, ii,, p. 206, 



