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HON. W. ROTHSCHILD ON THE GENUS CASUARIUS. 127 
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walked along the scrubs, or along the sides of the river or creeks, and swallowed large 
quantities of pebbles and small rough-edged stones. In confinement, plantains and 
sweet potatoes (in large pieces, which they swallow whole) are a favourite food, while 
nothing seems to come amiss to them—grasshoppers, spiders, earthworms, cockroaches, 
caterpillars of all kinds, dough, and even raw meat. ‘They ascertain the flavour of their 
diet by first taking it up in the tip of their bill and giving it a slight pinch ; and if not 
suitable, they throw it away. 
“T found they invariably refused green loquats, but always picked them up in the 
bill first to try them. In confinement they become very tame, and may be allowed to 
walk about the place without restraint, coming when called, or more often running after 
and following any one accustomed to feed them. 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. 
*T found the Cassowaries to be excellent swimmers, and frequently tracked them 
across a good-sized creek or river. On Hinchenbrook Island, situated about 14 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 a least two miles from them. Mr. Johnstone informs me he met with one swimming 
across a river of considerable width during his explorations 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 three 
minutes; it is very loud, and may be detected across the water at a distance of at 
least three miles on a still night. I have listened to it resounding through the scrubs 
at a distance of a mile anda half 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 
débris 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 
others, being of a light green colour, and having a much smootlier shell. The others 
all have a rough shell, covered rather sparingly with irregular raised patches of dark 
but bright green on a lighter green and smocth ground. In the pale (No. 1) variety 
vu 2 
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