ZOOLOGY. 



103 



leaves its eggs to be hatched by the heat of the sun, but m 

 the m-jre temperate regions, the females perform the office of 

 incubation duriiig the nij;ht The eggs, as also the flesh of 

 the young Sirds, are considered delicate food, but the flesh 

 of the adults is hard, dry, £ind insipid. 



3. Cassuariiis. Cassowary. j5z7/ subconical; gape large; 

 nostrils placed near the top of the bill, from the base 

 of which rises a hornij protuberance • tongue very small ; 

 neck covered with carunculated protuberances ; tail 

 and wings wanting ; in lieu of which a number of bare 

 shafts without any plume, project from the shoulder 

 bones ; feet three toed. 



This in general habits resembles the last genus, and are ♦ 

 likewise natives of the same countries ; they are very shy, 

 exceedingly gluttonous, and their flesh is of so coarse a kind 

 as to be generally rejected. 



Division II. WADERS, 



ORDER VIL 



ORALLY, 



CLOVEN-FOOTED WATER-BIRDS. 



Tlie individuals of this class are very numerous, and 

 widely dispertjed, differing greatly in interior and exterior 

 conformation, but agreeing in this one particular, that they 

 are invariably bare of feathers, to mid-way above the kneei^ 



II 4 



