CHAPTER X 



THE EMEUS AND CASSOWARIES 



(Order Casuariiformes) 



HILE it is perhaps hardly correct to assert that the Emeus and 

 Cassowaries, which comprise the present order, are actually the 

 most primitive of the Ratites, it is beyond question that they must 

 have arisen from the original procarinate stem at a point very near 

 those which gave rise to the Ostriches and Rheas. In any event they now differ 

 from them in a number of important particulars, such as the absence of the 

 ambiens muscle and the possession of a distinct aftershaft to the feathers; in 

 fact, the latter is so enormously developed as to be of practically the same length 

 and size as the main shaft. Another of the important differences is the extreme 

 reduction of the wing in the members of the present group, for, as Dr. Stejneger 

 says, it "could hardly become smaller without disappearing altogether externally." 

 There is but a single claw-bearing finger instead of three such as in the Ostrich, 

 while the absence of the ornamental wing-plumes and for that matter, of tail- 

 plumes as well serves to further distinguish them. They have very strong 

 legs and feet with three toes, the hallux or hind toe being absent, while the 

 three front toes are provided with claws and have the middle phalanges some- 

 what shortened. The plumage is quite hair-like in appearance and somewhat 

 harsh to the touch. 



The Casuariiformes embrace two families, the Dromaida, or Emeus, and the 

 Casuariida, or Cassowaries, each with a single living genus. 1 The Emeus are 

 distinguished by their larger size, a feathered neck and head, by a broad bill, 

 and the absence of a casque or helmet on the head. The bill has the culmen at 

 the base elevated and sloping to the tip, which overlaps that of thejower mandible ; 

 the oblong-oval nostrils are placed in a large membranous groove. The wings 

 are entirely without remiges and the tail is not apparent, while the toes are un- 

 equal, the inner one being the shorter, and provided with strong, obtuse claws. 



The second family (Casuariidtz) is distinguished by the smaller size, a long 

 compressed and keeled bill, with the suboval nostrils in the middle of a broad 

 membranous groove, while the head is ornamented by an elaborate bony helmet. 

 The head and neck are destitute of feathers, the skin being brightly colored in life 

 and the neck wattled. The wing bears about five long, stiff, rounded, webless 

 quills, and the inner of the rather long toes is provided with a very long, powerful 

 claw, the claws of the other toes being of moderate size, curved and obtuse. 



1 A number of fossil Emeu-like birds have sometimes been set aside as a distinct family the 

 Dromornithidas, but their consideration is omitted here. 



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