THBCASSOWART. 96 



And it was impossible to stop him otherwise than by obstruct, 

 ing the passage. This sight pleased M. Adanson so much, 

 that he wished it to be repeated ; and to try their strength, 

 he directed a full-grown negro to mount the smaller, and 

 two others the larger of the birds. This burden did not 

 seem at all disproportioned to their strength. At first, they 

 went at a tolerably sharp trot ; but when they became heated 

 a little, they expanded their wings, as though to catch the 

 wind, and moved with such fleetness that they scarcely 

 seemed to touch the ground. The foot of the Ostrich haa 

 only two toes ; one of which is extremely large and strong, 

 to make its way through the moving sands of the desert 



THE CASSOWARY, (Oasuartus gcueatut^ 



Is next in size to the ostrich, but of a different nature. 

 His wings are hardly perceptible, being very short, and 

 entirely concealed under the plumage. The general tint 

 of his feathers is brown, with some spots of vermilion red ; 

 his head is small and depressed, with a horny crown ; the 

 head and neck are deprived of feathers, and only set with a 

 kind of hairy down. From the bill to the claws the body 

 measures about five feet and a half; about the neck are two 

 protuberances of a bluish colour, and in shape like tho 



