GRALLATORLE. 145 



toes, the external of which is one half shorter than its fellow, and has no nail. 

 This bird, so highly celebrated from the earliest ages, abounds in the sandy 

 deserts of Arabia and Africa. It attains the height of six or eight feet, lives 

 in great troops, lays eggs, each weighing nearly three pounds, which, in very 

 hot climates, it is contented with exposing in the sand to the warmth of the 

 sun, but over which, out of the tropics, it broods with great care, defending 

 them courageously every where. The ostrich feeds on grass, grain, &c. ; and 

 so obtuse is its sense of taste, that it swallows pebbles, pieces of iron, copper, 

 &c. When pursued it dashes stones behind it with great violence. No 

 animal can overtake it in the race. 



Struth. rhea, Lin. (The American Ostrich*.) Is about one half smaller, with 

 more thinly furnished feathers, of a uniform grey colour; and particularly 

 distinguished by its three toes, all having nails. Its plumage is greyish, 

 browner on the back; a black line along the back of the neck in the male. 

 It is as common in the southern parts of South America, as the preceding 

 one is in Africa. When taken young it is easily tamed. Several females, 

 it is said, lay in the same nest, or rather the same hole, yellowish eggs, which 

 are hatched by the male. It is only eaten when very young. 



CASUARIUS, Brisson. 



The Cassowaries have wings still shorter than those of the Ostrich, and 

 totally useless, even in running. There are three toes to all the feet, each 

 furnished with a nail ; the barbs of their feathers are so poorly provided with 

 barbuiae that at a distance they resemble pendent hairs. Two species, are 

 known, each of which might also constitute a genus. 



Casuarius vulgaris, Lin. (The Cassowary.) The beak laterally compressed ; 

 head surmounted by a bony prominence, covered with horny substance ; skin of 

 the head and top of the neck naked, of an azure blue and a fiery red colour, with 

 pendent caruncles like those of the turkey ; some stiff stems in the wings, 

 wthout barbs, which the bird uses as weapons in combat ; nail of the internal toe 

 much the strongest. It is the largest of all birds, next to the ostrich, and dif- 

 fers considerably from it in its anatomy. It feeds on fruit and eggs, but no 

 grain. The female lays a small number of green eggs, which, like the ostrich, 

 she abandons to the solar heat. Found in different islands of the Archipelago 

 of India. 



Cas. Novae Hollandice, Lath. (The Cassowary of New Holland.) A 

 depressed beak ; no helmet on the head ; a little naked skin about the ear ; 

 plumage brown, and more of it; more barbs to the feathers; no caruncles, or 

 spurs on the wing; nails of the toes about equal. Its flesh resembles beef. 

 Its speed is greater than that of the swiftest greyhound. The young ones are 

 striped with brown and black. 



* Buffon and Brisson have improperly applied to the Ostrich the name of Touyou, which 

 properly belongs to the Jabiru. The Portuguese of Brazil give it the name of Emeu, 

 which properly belongs to the Cassowary. 



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