ZOOLOGY. 103 



leaves its eggs to be hatched by the heat of the sun, but in 

 the more temperate regions, the females perform the office of 

 incubation during the night. The eggs, as also the flesh of 

 the young Birds, are considered delicate food, but the flesh 

 of the adults is hard, dry, and insipid. 



3. Cassuarius. Cassowary. i?iVJ subconical; gape large; 

 nostrils placed near the top of the bill, from the base 

 of which rises ?ii horny protuberance ; tongue very small ; 

 neck covered with carunculated protuberances ; tail 

 and vcings wanting ; in lieu of which a number of bare 

 shafts without any plume, project from the shoulder 

 bones ; feet thr^e toed. 



This in general habits resembles the last genus, and are 

 likewise natives of the same countries ; they are very shy, 

 exceedingly gluttonous, and their flesh is of so coarse a kiad 

 £s to be generally rejected. 



Division II. WADERS. 



ORDER VII. 



G RA LLjE. 



CLOVEN-FOOTED WATER-BIRDS. 



The individuals of this class are very numerous, and 



widely dispersed, differing greatly in interior and exterior 



conformation, but agreeing in this one particular, that they 



are invariably bare of feathers, to mid-way above the knees, 



H 4 



