THE EMU. 



801 



3sist it in running. It is, however, very swift, and striking out 

 ilternately with one of its robust and powerful legs, projects its 

 [body violently forward with a bounding motion far surpassing 

 :he speed of the horse. 



CASSOWARY. 



The Australian Emu (Dromaius Novce HoUanclice) is allied 



bo the cassowary, though differing in many external characters. 



>oth the helmet, and the long pens or quills observable in the 



rings of the latter, are here wanting ; its neck and legs are 



longer, its feathers, for the most part grey and brown mixed, 



ire not so filiform, and its beak also is differently shaped. In 



jize it more nearly approaches the ostrich, rising to a height of 



seven feet, and from its great muscular power is able to run so 



quickly as to distance the swiftest greyhound. Incessant 



persecutions have driven it far away from the colonised parts of 



the country ; but it has still a vast range in the wilds of the 



interior. It lives on fruits, eggs, and even small animals, which 



it swallows entire. 



