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VI. A Monograph of the Genus Casuarius. By the Hon. Wauter Roruscuiy, Ph. D., 
E.ZS. With a Dissertation on the Morphology and Phylogeny of the PALmoGNaTHa 
(Ratit# and Crypturt) and Neognatna (Carinata). By W. P. Pycrarv. 
Received and read June 20, 1899. 
[Puates XXII.-XLYV.] 
Part I.—A Monocrapy or THE Genus Casvarivs. 
By the Hon. Wauter Rotuscaiwp, Ph.D., F.Z.S. 
Genus CASUARIUS Briss. 
1790. Casuarius Brisson, Orn. v. p. 10. 
1801. Rhea (non Latham, 1790) Lacépéde, Mém. de I’Inst. iii. p. 519. 
1842. Hippalectryo Gloger, Hand- u. Hilfsbuch, pp. xxxxiii, 452. 
The genus Casuarius is the typical genus of the group Casuarii of the Palewognathe 
(Ratite of former authors), and inhabits the Papuan subregion, ¢. e., New Guinea with 
the islands in Geelvink Bay, Salwatty, New Britain, the islands of the Aru group, 
Northern Queensland, and the island of Ceram in the Moluccas. The Cassowaries are 
evidently separable into a great many local forms, apart from the few very distinct good 
species ; but owing to their large size, to the uncertainty about the localities of the 
living specimens that are brought to Europe, and to the disappearance after death of 
the most characteristic coloration and structure of the bare skin on the head and neck, 
our knowledge of the species is doubtless still limited. The material which I have 
been able to study is very large compared with that available in most Museums. For 
several years I have tried to procure a great number of living specimens and of skins 
as well, and I have been able to place numerous fresh bodies and skeletons before 
Mr. Pycraft, whose appended paper will, I trust, be of great value for the study of the 
anatomy of the Palwognathe. 
Outwardly the genus Casuarius may easily be recognized by the following 
peculiarities :— 
The bill is short, generally shorter than the head, laterally compressed, strong, and 
with the culmen curved downwards near the tip. ‘The nostrils are placed in the 
middle of the maxilla, in a wide membranous groove, and open anteriorly. Head and 
neck bare and mostly brightly coloured, the skin much carunculated and wattled in 
various places. The forehead is ornamented with a more or less developed helmet of 
various shapes. Wings quite rudimentary, with about five round black shafts, without 
any indication of webs in the place of remiges; no rectrices apparent. ‘The metatarsus 
VOL. XV.— PART V. No. 1.—December, 1900. s 
