164 THE CASSOWARY. 



How long are his wings ? 



His wings, when the feathers are pulled out, are 

 only about three inches long, and on each of them 

 there are five sharp spines, or thorns, the largest of 

 which is nearly a foot long, and a quarter of an inch 

 thick, at the root. These are hollow, and are formed 

 like quills. 



Is the Cassowary a ferocious, or an innocent bird ? 



This great bird is not formed for seizing, and de- 

 stroying other animals. His claws are not made for 

 grasping his prey, nor is his bill made for tearing 

 flesh. But his feet are formed for walking, and his 

 bill for picking up his food from the ground. 



The bill of this singular bird is four inches long ; 

 his head is small, and on its cjown there grows a 

 large, horny substance, of a black colour, which gives 

 him a frightful appearance. The colour of his eye is 

 bright yellow, and the eye ball being an inch and a half 

 across, the whole aspect of the head is exceedingly 

 odd and fierce. 



About the middle of the neck there are two large 

 bunches of skin, and at this place the neck is surround- 

 ed with feathers like a ruffle. The other parts, with 

 the exception of the head and neck, are covered with 

 long thin feathers, which resemble horse hair. This 

 covering, on the. back, is so long as to fall down the 

 sides, and hide the upper parts of the legs. 



The whole appearance of the Cassowary is fierce 

 and terrible, and one who did not know his character, 

 would nearly as soon approach a lion, as go near him. 

 But his conduct and habits are very different from 

 what one might expect from his looks ; for instead ^ 



