THE HELMETED CASSOWARY. 



819 



whose legs are long and robust, the galeated or helmeted Cassowary 

 (Casuarius), is a native of Java and the adjacent islands of the Indian 

 Archipelago. His head is surmounted by a sort of osseous crest or 

 horny helmet. In size he is much inferior to the ostrich, not ex- 

 ceeding five feet when erect ; but he is robustly built, and of exceed- 

 ing strength. His plumage is very poorly supplied with feathers, so 

 as to resemble at a little distance, it is said, a coat of coarse or hang- 



OHTIUCHES fStruthio camelusj. 



ing hair. He is a swift runner, like the ostrich ; is equally voracious, 

 and not more dainty in his food. 



At that season of the year when the coming winter in our Northern 

 hemisphere already "casts its shadows before," legions of migratory 

 birds swarm towards the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Storks 

 and cranes, and aquatic birds, descend upon those vast and genial 

 southern prairies, where they obtain in abundance the precious food 

 denied them in less favoured climes. 



A beautiful crane, of ashen plumage, with a shapely ebon-black 



