CHAP. XXVII.] OF THE MOLUCCAS. ■ 149 



mound, or scratching a hole to receive them, it burrows into 

 the sand to the depth of about three feet obliquely down- 

 wards, and deposits its eggs at the bottom. It then loosely 

 covers up the mouth of the hole, and is said by the natives 

 to obliterate and disguise its own footmarks leading to and 

 from the hole, by making many other tracks and scratches 

 in the neighbourhood. It lays its eggs only at night, and 

 at Bouru a bird was caught early one morning as it was 

 coming out of its hole, in which several eggs were found. 

 All these birds seem to be semi-nocturnal, for their loud 

 wailing cries may be constantly heard late into the night 

 and long before daybreak in the morning. The eggs are 

 all of a rusty red colour, and very large for the size of 

 the bird, being generally three or three and a quarter 

 inches long, by two or two and a quarter wide. They 

 are very good eating, and are much sought after by the 

 natives. 



Another large and extraordinary bird is the Cassowarj^, 

 which inhabits the island of Ceram only. It is a stout and 

 strong bird, standing five or six feet high, and covered with 

 long coarse black hair-like feathers. The head is orna- 

 mented with a large horny casque or helmet, and the bare 

 skin of the neck is conspicuous with bright blue and red 

 colours. The wings are quite absent, and are replaced by 

 a group of horny black spines like blunt porcupine quills. 

 These birds wander about the vast mountainous forests that 



