MOORUK. — Casudrhis Bcnnettii. 



defence. Captain Devlin says, that the natives consider them to a certain degree sacred, 

 and rear them as pets. He does not know Avhether they are used as food, but if so, not 

 generally ; indeed, their shy disposition, and power of rapid ruiniing, darting through brake 

 and bush, would almost preclude their capture. 



The natives carry them in their arms, and entertain a great affection for them, which 

 will account for their domesticated state with us. The noise of these birds, when in the 

 yard, resembled that of the female turkey ; at other times, the peculiar chirping noise was 

 accompanied by a whistling sound, which often reminded me of the chirp of the Guinea 

 fowl. The contrast of these birds with the jabiru, or gigantic crane {Mj/cteria Austrdlis), 

 was very great. The jMooruks were sometimes seen moving about like the female turkey, 

 but were more often in a state of rapid motion or excitement ; when walking quietly, they 

 were very inquisitive, poking their beaks into everything, and familiar with every person. 

 The jabiru, on the other hand, was a perfect picture of sedate quietness, looking upon all 

 play as injurious to his constitution or derogatory to his dignity, remaining stiff in liis 

 gait and serious in his demeanour. The Mooruks, by their activity and noise, would let 

 every one know they were in the yard, wliereas no one would be aware of the presence of 

 the jabiru except by sight ; and when he moves away, it is with a quiet sedate gait. 



The Mooruk has, when seen in full face, a fine eagle-like expression of countenance, 

 having the same vivid, piercing eye and curved beak. The instant the Mooruk saw an 

 egg laid by a hen, he darted upon it, and breaking the shell, devoured it immediately, as if 

 he had been accustomed to eggs all his life. A servant was opening a cask of ale : as soon 

 as the birds heard the hammering, they both ran down to it, and reinained there while it 

 was unpacked, squatting down on each side, most intently watching the process, and 

 occasionally pecking at tlie straw and contents. 



When the carpenter was in the yard, making some alteration in the cage of these 

 birds, previous to their voyage to England, it was very amusing to see them squat down 

 upon their tarsi, like dogs, watching the man, with the greatest apparent interest in all his 

 actions, enjoying the hannnering noise, and occasionally ]ucking up a nail, which was not 

 in this instance swallowed, but again dropped; one of them swallowed liis "oilstone." 

 which so alarmed the man that he considered the bird had committed suicide, and hurried 



