108 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant on the Birds collected 



Family Casuariid^ — Cassowaries. 



The discovery made by Mr. Walter Goodfellow that two 

 distinct forms of t\vo-"wattled Cassowary occur side by side 

 on the jNIimika River has greatly modified Mr. Rothschild's 

 views oil the classification of the genus, and he now finds 

 that the ten forms possessing two wattles, when placed side 

 by side, fall naturally into two groups, one consisting of the 

 Common Cassowary [Casuarlus casnarius), divisible into six 

 subspecies or races, and the other of C. hicarunculatus, which 

 may be divided in four subspecies. The large forms found 

 on the Mimika are C. sdateri representing the first group 

 and C. intensus represeutiug the second. Both these birds 

 have a large elevated casque or helmet, and differ chiefly in 

 the pattern and coloration of the bare neck-wattles. 



These Cassowaries were seen at various times searching 

 for food in the pools and shallow waters of the river- 

 beds, and during the cross-country marches would some- 

 times dash across the trail, afi"ording but a momentary 

 glimpse. 



The natives have distinct names for the male and female 

 birds, and judging from the quantities of feathers in their 

 possession must often succeed in capturing them. Eggs 

 and newly-hatched chicks were brought in during January 

 and February. On one occasion at Parimau some eggs must 

 have been kept by the natives for a few days before they 

 hatched, for young were brought to the camp which had 

 evidentlv just emerged from the shells. 



A very interesting discovery was made by Mr, Claude 

 Grant on the foot-hills, where he met with a new dw^arf 

 species of Cassowarj', C claudii [O. -Grant, Bull. B. O. C. 

 xxix. p. 25 (1911)]. It is allied to C. 2)apt(anus, but has 

 the hind part of the crown and occiput black instead of 

 white. Like that bird it has a low triangidar casque, and 

 belongs to a different section of the genus from the two 

 larger species already mentioned. 



C. claudii has very brilliantly coloured soft parts. The 



