THE CASSOWARY AND EMU 



407 



Cassowary. 



The galeated Cassowary (Gasuarius galeatus), thus called 

 from its head being surmounted by a kind of horny helmet, is a 

 native of Java and the adjacent isles. 

 The skin of the head and upper part of 

 the neck is naked, of a deep blue and fiery 

 red tint, with pendant caruncles similar 

 to those of the turkey-cock. It is much 

 inferior in size to the ostrich, and its 

 wings are reduced to so rudimentary a 

 state, consisting merely of five long 

 bristles, without any plumes, that they are 

 even unable to assist it in running. All its feathers are of 

 the same kind, being entirely designed for covering, and re- 

 semble at a little distance a coat of coarse or hanging hair. 

 It feeds on fruits, eggs of birds, and tender herbage, and is 

 said to be as voracious as the ostrich. 



The cassowary is a very swift runner ; striking out alter- 

 nately with one of its robust and powerful legs, it projects 

 its body violently forward with a bound- 

 ing motion far surpassing the speed of 

 the horse. 



The Australian l^m.\\{promaius Force 

 Hollandim) is allied to the cassowary, 

 though differing in many external 

 characters. Both the helmet, and the 

 long pens or quills observable in the 

 wings of the latter, are here wanting; 



its neck and legs are longer, its feathers, for the most part 

 grey and brown mixed, are not so filiform, and its beak also 

 is differently shaped. In size 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. 



i-mu. 



