187G.] NORTH-EASTERN QUEENSLAND. 121 



they throw it aside. I found they invariably refused green Loquats, 

 but always picked them up in the bill first to try them. In con- 

 finement they become very tame, and may be allowed to walk about 

 the place without restraint, coming when called, or more often run- 

 ning after and following any one who is accustomed to feed tbem. 

 If disappointed or teased, they not unfrequently " 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 witnessed 

 on more than one occasion. These birds are very powerful, and 

 dangerous to approach when wounded. On more than one occasion 

 a wounded bird has caused a naturalist to take to a tree ; the sharp 

 nail of the inner toe is a most dangerous weapon, quite equal to the 

 claw of a large Kangaroo, and capable of doing quite as much 

 execution. 



I found the Cassowaries to be excellent swimmers, and frequently 

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

 Island, situated about 1^ mile from the mainland, they have been 

 frequently met with ; and I have myself heard them calling at night 

 and early in the morning as I passed up the channel, at a distance of 

 at least 2 miles from them. Mr. Johnstone informs me he met with 

 one swimming across a river of considerable width during his ex- 

 plorations while on the " North-east-Coast Exploring-Expedition." 

 Their note, most usually emitted by the male, is a series of harsh 

 guttural prolonged croakings quickly repeated, and continued for 

 about 3 minutes ; it is very loud, and may be detected across the 

 water at a distance of at least 3 miles on a still night. I have 

 listened to it resounding through the scrubs at a distance of 1| mile 

 on land, and then thought it close and one of the most unearthly 

 noises I ever heard. They breed during the months of August and 

 September. The first nest procured was found by some of Inspector 

 Johnstone's black troopers, from whom Mr. Miller, a settler on the 

 Herbert river, purchased some of the eggs. One which he kindly 

 presented to me is of the light-green variety mentioned hereafter. 

 The nest consists of a depression among the fallen leaves and debris 

 with which the ground in the scrubs is covered, with the addition of 

 a few more dry leaves. The place selected is always in the most 

 dense part, and well concealed by entangled masses of vegetation. 

 The eggs were five in number in the only two instances recorded ; 

 and in both cases one of the eggs in each set differed from the 

 other, being of a light-green colour, and having a much smoother 

 Bhell. The others all have a rough shell, covered rather sparingly 

 with irregular raised patches of dark but bright green on a lighter- 

 green and smooth ground. In the pale (No. 1) variety these raisings 

 on the shell are closer together, and not so well developed ; in both 

 varieties they are more thinly spread over the central portion than 

 at the ends. On the whole they closely resemble the eggs of 

 Casuarius hennettii, in which similar variations are noticeable ; but 

 they are larger, and of a greater diameter, being greatest in the 

 middle. I am indebted to Inspector Robert Johnstone for the fine 

 series of the eggs of this species which at present grace my collection. 



