42 NATURAL UISrORY OF BUIDS. 



line of the lielinct. It is iiili'resting to remark that the two species most distant in 

 sjtaee, and whieh l)<)th oei'iir oiitsiile of the Papuan fauna strictly, viz., the ('(tsmirius 

 castuirius (or ijuleatus) from C'erani, and C. aitstralis from norliiern Australia, are 

 very nearly related and rather diftieult to distini^uish. 



Oi the latter species we have an excellent life-history \>\ Jlr. E. P. Ramsay, from 

 whom the following account, which will also serve for the other species, is borrowed: 

 One of the eliief objects of my visit to Rockingham Bay was to become acquainted 

 with tlie Iiabits of this noble biril. While in Brisbane on my way up, I found that 

 several very young cassowaries had been obtaineil, and, for the first time, a nest atul 

 eggs had Ijeen found. This was great news ; and I need not relate bow I ma<le all 

 haste for the Herbert-River Police Camp, where I was most hospitably entertained and 

 welcomed by Inspector Johnstone, who was the first to rediscover and bring under 

 the notice of others the existence of this remarkable species. 



The Australian cassowary is a denizen of the dense dark scrubs scattered over the 

 district of Rockingham Bay, northeastern (iueensland, and extending as far north as 

 the Endeavour River. It was tolerably plentiful only a few years ago even in the 

 neighljorhood of Card well ; but since the advent of sugar-i)lanters, &c., on the Herbert 

 River and a<ljacent creeks, these fine birds have been most ruthlessly shot down and 

 destroye<l for the sake of their skins, several of wlii<-li I saw used for hearth-rugs and 

 door-mats. Formerly, they were easily enough jn'ocured ; but latterly, so wary have 

 they become, .and their numbers so decreased, that it is only with the greatest amount 

 of p:itience even a stray shot can be obtained. I know of no bird so wary and timid. 

 During the day they remain in the must dense parts of the scrubs, wandering about 

 the sides of the watercourses and clicks, (living in tiiroiii;ii the bushes and vines at 

 the slightest noise. Towards evening and early in the morning they usually visit their 

 favorite feeding-trees, such as the native figs, Leichardl-tree, and various species of 

 Acmeixt, Jatnbosa, Daoidsonia, etc. ; they appear to be ]>articularly fond of the 

 astringent fruit of the Leichardt-trees, ami of a species of Muranta, which jinxluced 

 bunches of large seed-pods filled with juicy pul]), resembling in a))pearance the inside 

 of a ripe passion-fruit {Passijloru edulis). Fruit and berries of all kinds are eagerly 

 sought after; the tame semi-adult bird which I had became so fond of the fruit of 

 tiie cape-mulberry that he would allow no one to come near the tree he h.'id taken 

 possession of. This bird had fi-cquently devoured at a time .'is much as three ipiarts 

 of Moquats' (fruit of Jiriobotria Japoiiica), and several fair-sized oranges ir/iole, 

 besides its usual amount of bread per diem (about three 2yoitnds). In nature I found 

 that in the afternoons they frecpiently came out and walked along the scrubs, or along 

 the si<le ol the river or creek, .and swallowed large (luantities of ])ebblcs and small 

 rough-edged stones. In confinement, i)lantains and sweet potatoes (in large jiieces 

 which they can swallow whole) are a favorite food, while nothing seems to come 

 amiss to them — grasshop]iers, spider.s, earth-wornis, cockroaches, caterpillars of all 

 kinds, dough, and even raw meat. In confinement they become very tame. If disap- 

 jiointed or teased, they not unfrequently "show fight" by bristling up their feathers, 

 and kicking out siileways or in front with force sufficient to knock a strong man <lown 

 — a feat I have witnessed on more than one occasion. These birds are very juiwcrful, 

 anil dangerous to approach when wounded. On more than one occasion a wounded 

 bird h.as caused a natur.alist to take to a tree; the sharp nail of the inner toe is a most 

 dangerous we.i|)on, quite eipial to the claw of a large kangaroo, and caj)able of doing 

 quit:' as nuicli execution. 



