BIllDS. 41 



is very hard at tiie edges above, and the extremity of it like that 

 of a turkey-cock. The end of the lower mandible is slightly 

 notched, and the whole is of a giayish brown, except a green 

 spot on each side. As the beak admits a very wide opening, 

 this contributes not a little to the bird's menacing appearance. 

 The neck is of a violet colour, inclining to that of 

 slate ; and it is red behind in several places, but chielly in the 

 middle. About the middle of the neck before, at the rise of the 

 large feathers, there are two processes formed by the skin, which 

 resemble somewhat the gills of a cock, but that they are blue as 

 well as red. The skin which covers the fore-part of the breast, 

 on which this bird leans and rests, is hard, callous, and without 

 feathers. The thighs and legs are covered with feathers, and 

 are extremely thick, strong, straight, and covered with scales of 

 several shapes ; but the legs are tiiicker a little above the foot 

 than in any other place. The toes ;u-e likewise covered with 

 scales, and are but three in number; for that which should be 

 behind is wanting. The claws are of a hard solid substance, 

 black without, and white within. 



The internal parts are equally remarkable. The cassowary 

 unites with the double stomach of animals that live upon vegeta- 

 bles, the short intestines of those that live upon flesh. The in- 

 testines of the cassowary are thirteen times shorter than those of 

 the ostrich. The heart is very small, being but an inch and a 

 half long, and an inch broad at the base. Upon the whole, it 

 has the head of a warrior, the eye of a lion, the defence of a por- 

 cupine, and the swiftness of a courser. 



Thus formed for a life of hostility, for terrifying others, and 

 for its own defence, it might be expected that the cassowary was 

 one of the most fierce and terrible animals of the creation. But 

 nothing is so opposite to its natural character, nothing so differ- 

 ent from the life it is contented to lead. It never attacks others ; 

 anil, instead of the bill, when attacked, it rather makes use of its 

 legs, and kicks like a hoi-se, or runs against its pursuer, beats 

 him down, and treads him to the ground. 



The manner of going of this animal is not less extraordinary 

 than its appearance. Instead of going directly forward, it seems 

 to kick up behind with one leg, and then making a bound on- 

 ward with the other, it goes with such prodigious velocity, that 

 the swiftest racer would be left far behind 



1)3 



