138 HON. W. ROTHSCHILD ON THE GENUS CASUAEIUS. 



13. Casuarius philipi Rothsch. Sclater's Cassowary. (Plate XXXIIl.) 

 1898. Casuarius jtliUipi Rothsch., Nov. Zool. v. p. 418. 



Almost rtfJiilf. Casque very high, compressed laterally and at the same time depressed 

 posteriorly, thus combining both forms of casque ; the colour of the casque pale 

 whitish brown behind, darker in front ; bill thick and apparently rather short. 

 Plumasc black ; feathers long and much curled on the body, the webs being close 

 and not disintegrated as in other Cassowaries, more like the tip of a freshly-moulted 

 feather of Dromceus. Feathers of the rump and tail enormously lengthened, some 

 of the tail-feathers when fresh-moulted trailing on the ground. Head, occiput, face, 

 and upper part of hind-neck pale greenish Nile-blue ; fore-neck and uppersides of 

 neck and sides of nape deep indigo-blue ; lower hind-neck lemon-yellow, flecked 

 with a few reddish spots on the edges. Lower naked sides of neck bright cherry- 

 crimson. Cheek-pouches, when extended and inflated during anger, of a dark 

 lavender-blue colour. The feathers of the neck come very high up and are 

 very thick ; on the lower part of the fore-neck is a single round flat wattle, upper 

 two-thirds cherry-red, lower third blue. On the occiput is a broad patch of dull 

 clay-brown. Cry unlike all the other Cassowaries, being very loud and resembling 

 a deep roar. 



This, quite the most remarkable Cassowary, is not only distinguished by tlie 

 colour of its naked parts, its curious casque and feathers, but also by its extra- 

 ordinary shape. It is quite as short from the ground to the level of its back as 

 Casuarius benveUi, but in every other respect it is a giant ; in fact, it can only 

 be compared with the extinct New Zealand Dinornis {Pacliyoriiis) elephantojyus as 

 regards proportions. 



Hah. unfortunately unknown. 



It was shipped to London irom Calcutta, and when it first came to the Society's 

 Gardens was in brown plumage, and the colours of the head and neck were not 

 developed. It was thought to be a young C. unappendimdatus, but as soon as it began 

 to come into colour, I saw it was something quite new, in fact it is the most distinct of 

 all the species of Cassowary. 



1 originally described this bird when it was much younger. My description was as 

 follows : — 



" This new species is founded on a bird now living in the Zoological Gardens, 

 London, which, though far from adult, being almost brown in plumage, appears to be 

 full-grown, and the naked parts are fully coloured. It is closely allied to C. uni- 

 appewliculatiis, but differs much in colour. 



" Plumage when adult evidently black. Casque as yet undeveloped, pale yellowish 

 horn-colour. Throat and fore-neck deep purplish blue. A single small wattle on 



