HON. W. ROTHSCHILD ON THE GENUS CASUAR1US. Ill 



' Memorie della Accademia di Torino,' and in his famous ' Qmitologia della Papuasia,' 

 iii. pp. 473-503. 



The Cassowaries are easily divided into three groups, as follows: — 1. The typical 

 group, containing two species, Casuarius bicarunculatus and 0. casuarius with its seven 

 subspecies ; 2. The one-wattled Cassowaries, containing two species, C. philipi and 

 C. unappendicu/atus, 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. /orice. 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 .... Typical Group. 

 Casque depressed posteriorly, sometimes compressed laterally, one 



wattle on fore-neck One-wattled Cassowaries. 



Casque depressed posteriorly, no wattle on fore-neck The Mooruks. 



In the typical group the species Casuarius casuarius and its subspecies vary 

 enormously in the height and slope of the casque ; and although in the " Key " to the 

 species I 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, Couut 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. 

 .1 •! Plumage brown. Immature. 



!> Plumage black. Adult 2. 



' Two wattles on fore-neck ; casque not depressed posteriorly, 



but compressed laterally 3. 



2 \ One wattle on fore-neck ; casque depressed posteriorly or 



j compressed laterally 8. 



^ No wattle on fore-neck, casque depressed posteriorly . . 11. 



s2 



