BIRDS 



189 



and some of its islands, resembles an ostrich in appearance, but 

 is shorter-necked and has a slenderer body. The feathers of the 

 head and upper part of the neck are very small, and the plumage 

 generally is very loose, the feather barbules being widely separated. 

 Unlike ostriches, these birds are monogamous, but, as in them, 

 incubation is carried on by the male. The young birds are 

 striped. 



Cassowaries (Casuarius) (fig. 128) are restricted- to North 



Fig. 128. Cassowary (Casnarins} 



Australia, Ceram, New Guinea, and adjacent islands. Their 

 appearance is very striking, and in some respects they are the 

 most modified of all the running birds. The head and upper 

 part of the neck are bare and brilliantly coloured blue, red, 

 green, or yellow, according to the species. In some cases there 

 are fleshy outgrowths or wattles on the neck. The beak is not 

 unlike that of an ordinary fowl in shape, and there is a peculiar 

 " casque " on the top of the head, formed by an outgrowth from 

 the skull. The shining plumage is bluish-black, and resembles 

 hair in texture rather than feathers. The small wing bears four 

 or five quills, represented, however, only by their shafts. F.eathers 



