32 PROF. W. H. FLOWER ON THE AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY. [Jan. 3, 



6. Ardea sacra, Gml. ; Finsch et Hartl. /. c. p. 201 ; id. 

 Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 136 (Tonga). 



One specimen in full dress with well-developed seasonal plumes, but 

 quite white, having only a few slate-coloured feathers on the back. 



Bill yellow with brown culmen ; feet dark. 



" Iris yellow ; bill luteous with dusky shades ; legs and feet 

 greenish-yellow." {Garrett.) 



7. Gygis alba, Sparrm. ; Finsch et Hartl. 1. c. p. 232 ; id. 

 Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 140. 



One specimen, adult. 



" Irides deep blackish brown ; basal half of bill light blue, the 

 other half black ; legs and feet bluish slate." (Garrett.) 



4. On the Skeleton of the Australian Cassowary (Casuarius 

 australis). By W. H. Flower, F.K.S., V.P.Z.S. 



[Eeceived January 3, 1871.] 



The external characters by which this species is distinguished from 

 the other members of the genus are described by Mr. Sclater 

 (P. Z. S. 1868, p. 376), and are also well portrayed in the last 

 number of the supplement to Mr. Gould's 'Birds of Australia.' 



A skeleton of a very fine adult specimen, presented to the Museum 

 of the Royal College of Surgeons by Mr. Sclater, haviug been ob- 

 tained by Messrs. Scott near their station at the Valley of Lagoons 

 in Northern Queensland, has supplied materials for the following 

 comparison with that of C. galeatus. Of the latter species I have 

 examined three individuals — two belonging to the Museum of the 

 College of Surgeons, and one kindly lent me by Mr. E. Gerrard, jun., 

 for the purpose of comparison. Unfortunately the sex of the bird 

 was not recorded in either case. 



From the table of dimensions given below, it will be seen that 

 there is a considerable difference of size among the three specimens of 

 C. galeatus, but that the largest individual of this species is consi- 

 derably exceeded in every dimension by the specimen of O. aus- 

 tralis, so that the fact that the latter species attains to a greater 

 size than C. galeatus, as stated by Mr. Sclater, is confirmed*. 



In the skull, the only important difference observable between 

 the two species is in the shape of the supracranial crest, formed in 

 both of very light cancellar or spongy bony tissue, with an external 

 layer no thicker than fine paper, and which is covered, in the living 



* The specimen described by Dr. F. Mueller (see P. Z. S. 1867, p. 241) is 

 stated to have been of smaller size than C. galeatus. 



