There is no doubt this bird is identical with C. Australia of Could. 



Mr. Carron, with reference to the specimen in the Sydney Museum, says: — "I have just seen 

 (he bird sent to the Museum by Mr. Johnston, and think it identical with that shot by Mr. Wall in 

 the vicinity of Weymouth Hay, in November, 1848. I am aware that in the few remarks on Mr. Wall's 

 bird which appear in my narrative of Kennedy's Kxpedition, there is an error ;>s to the colour of the 

 helmet <»r comb, which was black, not red. . . . As I was present when Wall's bird was shot, 

 and helped to eat it. I had a good opportunity of knowing something respecting it. Instead of going in 

 flocks of live or mx together, it is certainly a solitary bird, and would appear to be very scarce, as only 

 two others were seen by our party during the whole journey from Rockingham Hay to my furthest 

 camp at Weymouth Bay, in latitude I 2° 25 N 8. This bird had shorter but larger legs, and heavier body 

 and shorter neck than the l'anu. It appears to confine itself to the gullies in the thick jungles with the 

 Brush Turkeys and Jungle fowl, feeding on the various fruits found there, even swallowing the large 

 seeds of Castanospermum and Pandanus. Mr. Wall took every care of the skin he was able to do, but 

 it was completely destroyed before he died, together with my own specimens at Weymouth Bay. This 

 bird was certainly very large, and furnished our whole party with a better supper and breakfast than we 

 had enjoyed for some months, or than pool - Wall was destined to enjoy again (as he and all his companions, 

 with the exception ol myself and one other, had died in six weeks after from want of food). But there 

 was not one in the party who would not have eaten more if he could have got it, every meal having 

 to be divided with the greatest nicety for a long time." 



Some naturalists were inclined to doubt whether C. Australia would prove to be really distinct 

 from the well-known C. Galeatus of Crane, but a more extended acquaintance has proved that they are 

 distind species. Exception has sometimes been taken to the colouring of the heads and neck, but no 

 hard and fast rule can be laid down with regard to it, as this is a variable feature, dependent upon the 

 seasons ; and sometimes the skin is smooth, at others corrugated. 



" Egg, of a graceful elliptical form, and is superficially like Shagreen or rough American cloth, 

 but not quite so rough as the Emu's egg. General appearance. — In colour a beautiful pea-green, but if 

 examined critically the raised rough particles of the shell will only be found to be green, while the minute 

 interstices are greenish-white. Length, 5/jj inches ; breadth, inches." 



The above description is taken from a handsome pair of eggs exhibited by Dr. Lucas at the last 

 meeting. The Cassowary eggs are of great interest, not only for their great beauty, but as being the 

 largest of all Australian eggs. The Cassowary inhabits the dense tropical jungles between the Herbert 

 River and Cape York Peninsula. The nest is generally placed near the base of a large tree in the great 

 scrubs, and consists of sticks, leaves, and other debris. A set of eggs is from four to six, generally the 

 latter, which are laid in September, the young making their appearance the following month. The 

 Cardwell aboriginals call the bird " Yun-gun," or in pigeon English, " big fellow chookie-chookie." (./. A. 

 Campbell, February, 1886. 



Total leno-th, 72 inches ; height about five feet. 



The head is surmounted by a black horney helmet, and destitute of feathers, as is the neck ; but 

 about the eye the bare skin has a greenish hue, while the back of the head and front of neck are a deep 

 l oyal blue ; down the sides of the neck are heavy corrugations of brilliant red, which becomes orange 

 towards the shoulders. The plumage is a coarse black spine-like feathers, shewing rusty-brown on the 

 thighs. From the rudimentary wings depend some long black pencil-like quills; irides, brown; legs, scaly 

 horn ; toes, black. 



Habitats : Cape York, Rockingham Bay. — Ramsay. 



