THE CASSOWARIES AND EMEUS 2337 



In being forest-haunting birds, cassowaries differ essentially from the 

 ostriches and rheas, and appear to be generally shy and but seldom 

 seen in their native haunts. Unfortunately, however, we are still in want of good 

 accounts of the habits of these birds in their wild state. Those brought to Europe 

 (where they will lay freely) are characterized by their extreme tameness and do- 

 cility; but this, it is said, is largely due to their being mostly, if not invariably, 

 specimens which have been reared from early chickenhood in captivity by the na- 

 tives, among whom these birds are treated almost like domestic fowls. The Aus- 

 tralian species is reported to frequent rocky wooded districts, where as many as 

 seven or eight may be seen together, keeping almost entirely to the more open 

 portion of the scrub, and seldom venturing out into the plains. Ffom July to 

 September, at least, it is known to feed chiefly upon an egg-shaped blue berry, 

 and its entire food is probably of a vegetable nature. Regarding the muruk, 

 Bennett was informed that the natives of New Britain capture these birds ' ' when 

 very young, soon after they are hatched, and rear them by hand, but can rarely or 

 never capture the adult, from its being so shy and difficult of approach. They are 

 exceedingly swift of foot, and possessed of great strength in their legs. On the 

 least alarm they elevate the head, and, on seeing danger, dart among the thick 

 bushes, thread localities where no human being can follow them, and disappear 

 with incredible rapidity. The muruk, with its powerful legs and muscular thighs 

 has an extraordinary power of leaping." This species utters a kind of chirping cry, 

 susceptible of modulations according to the occasion. Unlike the emeu, which 

 kicks outward and backward, cassowaries invariably kick forward, at the same time 

 elongating their bodies; in captivity they will not unfrequently perform a kind of 

 war dance around any object that attracts their attention, accompanied by vigorous 

 kickings and many bendings of the neck. In spite of their speed, and the rapidity 

 with which they move their limbs, cassowaries do not run, after the manner of an 

 ostrich, but may be rather said to trot. 



As regards their breeding habits in a wild state very little has been ascertained; 

 although it would appear that at this season they associate only in pairs. From 

 native reports concerning the rare Ceram cassowary, Mr. Wallace wrote that the 

 female laid from three to five eggs, which were brooded by each sex in turn; but 

 from observations made on menagerie specimens, it appears that all the work of 

 hatching devolves upon the cock, the period of incubation being about seven weeks. 

 Although cassowaries will lay freely, it is but seldom that the eggs are hatched in 

 captivity. In color, the latter are dark green, with the surface of the shell beauti- 

 fully granulated, or shagreened. The young cassowaries, in which the position of 

 the helmet is indicated by a flat horny plate, are carefully tended and fed by the 

 cock bird until able to shift for themselves. 



Originally applied indifferently to the members of both the preced- 

 ing and the present genus, the name emeu (which is itself a derivative 

 from the Portuguese word emea, meaning apparently a crane, and then any large 

 bird) is now by common consent restricted to the latter. Agreeing with the casso- 

 waries in the features mentioned on p. 2334, the emeus of which the two species 

 are restricted to Australia and some of the adjacent islands are distinguished by the 



