HON. W. ROTHSCHILD ON THE GENUS CASUARIUS. eet 
‘Memorie della Accademia di Torino,’ and in his famous ‘ Ornitologia della Papuasia,’ 
li. pp. 473-503, 
The Cassowaries are easily divided into three groups, as follows:—l. The typical 
group, containing two species, Casuarius bicarunculatus and C. casuarius with its seven 
subspecies ; 2. The one-wattled Cassowaries, containing two species, C. philipi and 
C. unappendiculatus, with four subspecies; 3. The Mooruks, which number four 
species—C. papuanus with two subspecies, C. picticollis with two subspecies, C. bennetti 
with two subspecies, and C. /orig. These three groups are readily separable externally 
and anatomically. Mr. Pycraft’s memoir will detail the anatomical features. The 
external characters may be roughly designated thus :— 
Casque compressed laterally, two wattles on fore-neck . . . . Typicat Group. 
Casque depressed posteriorly, sometimes compressed laterally, one 
wattle on fore-neck. . . . . . ae - + « « + ONE-waTTLED CassowaRIEs. 
Casque depressed posteriorly, no wattle on “fore! nek V0) 2a hae MooRUKS: 
In the typical group the species Casuarius caswarius and its subspecies vary 
enormously in the height and slope of the casque; and although in the “ Key ” to the 
species | have stated that certain forms are distinguished by a high or low casque, ‘the 
fact remains that we often have greater differences among individuals of one subspecies 
than between two subspecies. Also we often find that males of one given subspecies 
show, as a rule, much higher and more erect casques, while the females have the casque 
lower and sloping back over the occiput. There is no doubt that certain differences 
exist in these two characters among the subspecies and species of the Casuarius 
casuarius section; but too much weight cannot and must not be placed on these 
differences: first, because there is considerable individual variation ; secondly, because 
there is sexual variation; and, thirdly, because the period of growth seems variable 
(at least in captivity). I have seen young birds still in brown plumage with 
enormous casques, while fully adult birds with black plumage showed hardly any 
casque at all. 
I have to thank Drs. Finsch, Gestro, Giglioli, and Heck, Count Salvadori, 
Dr. Sclater, Mr. Blaauw, and others, for their kind help in lending me specimens, 
drawings, &c. 
Key to the Species and Subspecies of the Genus Casuarius. 
; Plumage striped. Chicks. 
l { Plumage brown. Immature. 
“Plumage blacks, GAddiee eee ttoute con ad a oe te 2. 
{ Two wattles on fore-neck ; casque not depressed posteriorly, 
| but compressed laterally . . . . Sai 3. 
24 One wattle on fore-neck ; casque derraeed Risteriorly or 
j compressed laterally . . . . . . syn aes: 8. 
( No wattle on fore-neck, casque depressed poncertatly eget 
