144 HON. W. EOTHSCHILD ON THE GENUS CASUAEIUS. 



Immature. The immature bird varies considerably, and I describe the two most 

 different : — 



(.1) Chin and throat dull red, nearly joining the red patch in centre of fore-neck; 

 rest of naked parts as in adult, only duller in colour ; plumage black, completely 

 mingled with brown feathers. 



(2) Plumage brown, slightly mixed with black feathers. Chin, throat, fore- and 

 hind-neck, and occiput dull blue, base of hind-neck orange. In centre of fore-neck a 

 large horseshoe-shaped red patch, lower naked sides of neck dull purple. 



Juv. (one-third grown). Uniform pale brown. 



Hob. Coast-region of British New Guinea. 



In 1875 (P. Z. S. p. 85) Dr. Sclater characterized this bird as follows : — 



" In C. westermanni (pi. xix.) the throat is blue and the hinder part of the neck 

 deep orange-red. In the new species, which I propose to call C. picticollis (pi. xviii.), 

 the middle of the throat is red, and the hinder part of the neck bright blue. There 

 are, besides, minor differences, which will be evident on comparing the two drawings. 

 Now, so far as I know, these colours in the naked parts of the Cassowaries are quite 

 constant; and I can hardly doubt therefore that we have here to deal with different 

 species." The original specimen came from Discovery Bay. It died, after having 

 lived for about twenty-nine months in the Society's Gardens, and is now preserved 

 in the British Museum. Other individuals are known from Milne Bay. The 

 description of C. picticollis in the ' Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum ' is 

 that of a mountain form which I consider to be specifically distinct, and which I 

 have separated as Casuarius lorias, as I had been able to examine several specimens 

 of it. 



18. Casuarius picticollis hecki Rothsch. Heck's Cassowary. (Plate XXXVII.) 



1899. Casuarius picticollis hecki Rothsch. Bull. B. O. C. viii. p. xlis (May 17th), p. lvi (June 21st) ; 

 id., P. Z. S. p. 775 (June 20th ; appeared Oct. 1st). 



Adult. Bill short and pointed ; casque low and flattened posteriorly. Occiput Nile- 

 blue, rest of head and neck deep indigo-blue. Naked lower sides of neck bright 

 crimson, bordered with indigo-blue. Cheek-wattles large and balloon-shaped when 

 extended. Legs brown. Bill and casque black. 



Young and chicks unknown. 



This form differs from C. picticollis in the absence of red on the throat and chin, in 

 the much darker blue of the head and neck, and in the bright crimson instead of 

 purplish-red naked lower sides of neck. 



Hccb. German New Guinea. 



