VoL ^11. 1 White, Notes on the Cassowary. I^Q 



scatters them about. In the case of one clutch in m}^ collection, 

 the eggs, though fresh, are scratched all over, and one of them 

 was found 20 yards away from the nest. The collector, on his 

 first visit, did not approach nearer than 5 yards to the nest, 

 leaving it untouched in order to see whether more eggs would 

 be laid. I consider that this trait on the part of the bird is the 

 cause of a large proportion of the clutches found being incomplete. 



The following notes are taken from letters, &c., received from 

 Mr. Frizelle since May, 191 1. They are naturally disjointed, 

 but I give practically his own words, and trust that they may 

 throw a little more light upon the habits of this interesting and 

 rapidly disappearing bird. 



Mr. J. H. Maiden, Government Botanist of New South Wales, 

 has kindly identified (as well as the material supplied permitted) 

 the various fruit foods of the Cassowary, as hereinafter mentioned. 

 Mr. Frizelle sent me large quantities of fruit, seeds, &c. ; but 

 owing to the delay in transit, and the soft nature of many of the 

 specimens, considerable difficulty was experienced in delivering 

 them to Mr. Maiden in a state suitable for identification purposes. 

 The photographs accompanying this article were taken under 

 great difficulties. The pictures of the Cassowaries' nests in situ 

 are, I understand, unique. 



Field Notes. 



Clump Point, N.Q., May, 191 1. — The Cassowaries, in the laying 

 season, appear very jealous of each other, and one female never lays 

 near or within another's district. Like the Tooth-billed Bower-Birds 

 {ScenopcBetes dentirostris), they have certain patches of scrub which 

 they seem to consider their own. These are of great extent ; the 

 smallest I have seen is about half a square mile. I know of another 

 pair of birds which roam in the season over a two-mile block. At 

 certain places the presence of considerable quantities of droppings 

 would lead one to believe that there must be large numbers of these 

 birds present ; but they, like horses, have their own sunny spots for 

 resting, from about noon to 4 p.m. This spot can easily be found 

 by searching edges of forest pockets. It was my old native who 

 told me this, and I have proved it. The birds like a dry run, not 

 too stony, and within call of several of the different berries which 

 they eat. I know of about ten different runs now. 



The Cassowaries about Cardwell are the first to lay, on acount of 

 the dry weather starting earlier there. Young birds are often to be 

 seen with the natives, but they are dangerous pets to have, on account 

 of the way in which they kick. Observed many Cassowaries in the 

 ranges at C],ump Point. I never saw such a number of these birds 

 together before. The young birds which I saw must, by the great 

 differences in sizes of various broods, be from eggs laid late or early. 

 We had no difficulty in catching one of three, while others were 

 fully three feet high and able to run like a horse. While with the 

 mother they have a peculiar cry, rather like a note made by a tame 

 young Turkey. We saw also individual young birds walking about 

 alone, but these were shy. 



Food this month consisted of the fruit of the bright red berry of a 

 palm (Archontophcenix alexandrcs, Wendl.), seed of the zamia palm 



