34 NEORNITHES RATITAE CHAP. 
Middle and South New Guinea, has the front and top of the casque 
black, its sides greenish, and its back yellowish ; the head is grey- 
blue, the throat and sides of the neck are blue, the hind-neck is red 
and orange, a yellow streak running across to the mandible; a bare 
space on each side of the base of the neck is flesh-coloured, and the 
long single neck-wattle of the same colour is somewhat deeply 
divided at the tip. 
Of the second group, C. uniappendiculatus (Fig. 10), of Sala- 
watti and the adjoming parts of New Guinea, has the head, throat, 
and nape blue, the lower portion of the neck and the median pear- 
shaped caruncle yellow, the casque dusky olive, and a longitudinal 
naked space towards the sides of the neck flesh-coloured with a 
yellow margin. . C. occipitalis of Jobi Island is distinguished 
from the last-named by a large occipital spot of yellow and a 
paler helmet ; while the remaining three forms have no wattle at 
all. Of these, C. papuanus, of North-East New Guinea, has a 
dusky black casque, blue head, throat, and. fore-neck, grey-green 
occiput and auricular region, and orange hind-neck changing into 
rosy flesh-colour towards the sides. C. picticollis of South-East 
New Guinea has a black helmet, grey-blue occiput, violet-blue 
nape, pale blue hind-neck, red throat and longitudinal space on 
the sides of the lower neck; C. bennetti of New Britain differing 
in having the head and neck of an almost uniform blue. 
Nestling Cassowaries are clothed in rusty brown, relieved by 
darker stripes; at a later period they become more tawny, and 
the black plumage begins to appear; but a few hair-like feathers 
remain on the head for some time, while the helmet is very 
eradually developed from a flat Coot-like shield, though the 
gaudy colours of the neck and wattles are assumed much earlier.' 
All the species of this family inhabit wooded country, com- 
monly of the densest description, though often found in more 
open scrub and in the neighbourhood of creeks and watercourses. 
Naturally shy but inquisitive, they have been rendered doubly. 
wary by man’s persecution since their haunts have been invaded 
by colonists. They dislike the sun, and emerge from cover only 
in the morning and evening, seeking their favourite spots, where 
they feed chiefly on fallen fruit, varying this diet with insects 
and crustaceans. Berries, leaf-buds, and bulbs are, however, 
also eaten, with grit and pebbles for digestive purposes, and in 
1 Cf. E. P. Ramsay, P.Z.S. 1876, p. 122. 
