126 HON. W. ROTHSCHILD ON THE GENUS CASUARIUS. 
with the habits of this noble bird. In 1872 I had sent my collector, Edward Spalding, 
to this district for this purpose, but with very poor results. 
“While in Brisbane on my way up I purchased by telegram a fine young living 
specimen, the first that had been obtained and reared, and ultimately succeeded in 
bringing it alive to Sydney and shipping it to the Society, where I am glad to hear it 
arrived safely. I found also that several very young Cassowaries had been obtained, 
and, for the first time, a nest. and eggs had been found. ‘This was great news; and I 
need not relate how I made all haste to the Herbert River Police Camp, where I was 
most hospitably entertained and welcomed by Inspector Johnstone, who was the first 
to rediscover and bring under the notice of others the existence of this remarkable 
species. I found Inspector Johnstone a true sportsman, as well as an ardent lover of 
nature, a zealous and energetic naturalist, and a careful observer. I am indebted to 
this gentleman for much valuable information respecting the manners and customs 
of the aborigines, and notes on the habits of many birds and animals new to me, and 
especially for information on the present species. 
“The Australian Cassowary is a denizen of the dense dark scrubs scattered over the 
district of Rockingham Bay, and extending as far north as the Endeavour River. It 
was tolerably plentiful only a few years ago even in the neighbourhood of Cardwell ; 
but since the advent of sugar-planters, etc. on the Herbert River and adjacent creeks, 
these fine birds have been most ruthlessly shot down and destroyed for the sake of their 
skins, several of which I saw used for hearth-rugs and door-mats. Formerly they were 
easily enough procured; but latterly so wary have they become, and their numbers so 
decreased, that it is only with the greatest amount of patience that even a stray shot 
can be obtained. I know of no bird so wary and timid ; and although their fresh tracks 
may be plentiful enough, and easily found in the soft mud on the sides of the creeks 
or under their favourite feeding-trees, yet the birds themselves are seldom now seen. 
During the day they remain in the most dense parts of the scrubs, wandering about 
the sides of the watercourses and creeks, diving in through the bushes and vines at 
the slightest noise. Toward evening and early in the morning they usually visit 
their favourite feeding-trees, such as the native figs, Leichardt-trees, and various 
species of Acemena, Jambosa, Davidsonia, &c.; they appear to be particularly fond of 
the astringent fruit of the Leichardt-trees and of a species of Maranta, which produce 
bunches of large seed-pods filled with juicy pulp, resembling in appearance the inside 
of a ripe passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis). Fruits and berries of all kinds are eagerly 
sought after; the tame semiadult bird which I had the pleasure of forwarding to the 
Society (1875) became so fond of the fruit of the Cape-Mulberry that he would allow 
no one to come near the tree he had taken possession of. This bird has frequently 
devoured at a time as much as three quarts of ‘loquats’ (fruit of Eriobotria japonica), 
and several fair-sized oranges whole, besides its usual amount of bread per diem (about 
3 pounds). In nature, I found that in the afternoons they frequently came out and 
