CASSOWARY. 385 



as the bill ; irides brown ; the top of the head, and hind part clothed 

 with a few straggling - crisped feathers, or hairs, the rest of the neck 

 and breast covered with very long and loose brown feathers, which 

 are, in the male, nearly white on the fore part ; and when the bird 

 walks with the head drawn backward, gives a remarkable fullness 

 to the breast ; the rest of the bird is dark brown, with a tinge of 

 blue, or blue grey, and the feathers every where loose and long, 

 with the webs not attached as in the Common Species ; and also 

 having two feathers from one quill, totally conceal any appearance 

 of wings or tail : there is, however, a wing, or what may be called 

 such, being a round stump, two inches in length, with a spur at 

 the end, a little bent, having feathers on the sides, giving the 

 appearance of a short wing, but by no means discoverable while the 

 bird is in a quiescent state ; the legs are stout, of a dirty bluish 

 colour, and appear to come out of the middle of the body, in the 

 manner of a Duck or Goose, the thighs not at all visible, as in the 

 New-Holland Species, and the toes are placed all three forwards, as 

 in that bird. 



The female is much like the male, but the bare parts about the 

 head incline more to brown, and the loose feathers on the neck and 

 breast are less full and brown. The young, when about three weeks 

 old, are striped longitudinally brown and white, and in five or six 

 weeks become wholly plain brown. 



This species inhabits Van Diemen's Land, and we have very little 

 reason to doubt its being a distinct species, as it differs in size and 

 manners. — The author above quoted for a figure, calls it Casuarius 

 Novas Hollandiae, supposing it to be the same bird, which is on all 

 hands allowed to be fierce and untameable, even when brought up 

 young; whereas the one last described, is perfectly familiar, sub- 

 mitting to be domesticated like other poultry, and handled without 

 resistance, and which I have experienced myself; it is different also 

 from either of the others as to general gait, the head and neck being 



VOL. VIII. D D D 



