j6 The Emeus and Cassowaries 



front; fore neck with a single wattle. Of the one-wattled Cassowaries there are 

 two species (C. philipi and C. uniappendiculatus') and four subspecies. 3. The 

 casque as in the last but the fore neck without a wattle. These forms, called the 

 Mooruks, include four species, C. papuanus, C. picticollis, C. bennetti, and C. 

 lories, each, except the last, with two subspecies. 



It will not be possible in the space at command to give descriptions of all 

 the species, nor is this perhaps desirable, but I venture to attempt a pen picture 

 of one or two. The oldest known species is the Common or Ceram Cassowary 

 (C. casuarius), a specimen of which was brought alive to Amsterdam in 1597. 

 It is a species of moderate size, with a large, though not high, sloping casque of 

 a dark brownish horn color. The head and occiput are Nile-blue, darker in 

 the upper part of the hind neck, the lower two thirds of which is scarlet, while the 

 chin, throat, and fore neck are dark blue. The wattles are large, lappet-shaped, 

 much roughened, and of a deep pink color. The naked lower sides of the neck 

 are bluish purple in front and bright scarlet behind. The plumage is of course 

 black throughout. This species is reported to be rather abundant in the interior 

 of Ceram, but it is extremely shy and difficult to approach, so much so, indeed, 

 that no European naturalist appears to have seen it in the wild state. The eggs 

 are said to be excellent eating. 



The Violet-necked Cassowary (C. c. violicollis), a subspecies of the last, is 

 found in Trangan Island, of the Aru group, and takes its name from the bright 

 violaceous color of the neck. The type specimen is now living in England, and 

 Rothschild thus describes its so-called "song": "It lowers its head and neck 

 and remains in this position with head and neck stretched out straight in 

 front for about fifteen seconds, with the bill open and gradually inflating its 

 neck, without making a sound; then, bowing and jerking its head so that the 

 bill and wattle clap together, it emits some barking grunts, apparently with 

 great effort." 



Still another subspecies is the Australian Cassowary (C. c. australis) of north- 

 ern Queensland. It is a very large form, with the wattles more than five inches 

 in length. Its habits have been very entertainingly described by Edward 

 Spalding, as quoted in the Rothschild memoir, and among other things he 

 says: "I have found the Cassowaries to be excellent swimmers, and 

 frequently tracked them across a good-sized creek or river. On Hinchen- 

 brook Island, situated about i^ miles from the mainland, they have been 

 frequently met with." 



Mr. Spalding had a young specimen in captivity for some time and speaks of 

 its voracious appetite. "This bird has frequently devoured at a time as much 

 as three quarts of 'loquats' and several fair-sized oranges whole, besides its 

 usual amount of bread per diem, about three pounds. ... In confinement 

 they become very tame, and may be allowed to walk about the place without 

 restraint, coming when called, or more often running after and following after 

 any one accustomed to feed them. If disappointed or teased, they not infre- 

 quently 'show fight' by bristling up their feathers, and kicking out sideways or 

 in front with force sufficient to knock a strong man down, a feat I have 



