[ 109 ] 



VI. A Monograph of the Genus Casuarius. By the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Ph.D., 

 F.Z.S. With a Dissertation on the Morphology and Phylogeny of the Pal^eognathjs 

 (Ratitje and Cryptuki) and Neognath^e (Carinam). By W. P. Ptcraft. 



Keceived and read June 20, 1899. 



[Plates XXII.-XLV.] 



Part I. — A Monograph op the Genus Casuarius. 

 By the Hon. Walter Rothschild, Ph.D., F.Z.S. 



Genus CASUARIUS Briss. 



1790. Casuarius Brisson, Orn. v. p. 10. 



1801. Rhea (non Latham, 1790) Lacepede, Mem. de lTnst. 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 Palceognathce 

 (Ratitce of former authors), and inhabits the Papuan subregion, i. 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 Palwognathce. 



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 



