better out of a dish than from the ground ; no doubt having been accustomed early to be fed in that 

 manner. They were as familiar as if horn and hred among us for years, and not, require time to 

 reconcile them to their new situation, hut became sociable and quite at home at once. We found 

 them next day rather too tame, or, like spoilt pets, too often in the way. One or both of them 

 would walk into the kitchen ; while one was dodging under the tables and chairs the other one would 

 leap upon the table, keeping the cook in a state of excitement; or they would be heard chirping in 

 the hall, or walk into the library in search of food or information, or walk upstairs, and then be seen 

 quickly descending' again, making their peculiar chirping, whistling noise ; not a door could be left open 

 but in they walked, familiar with all. They kept the servants constantly on the alert. If one of them 

 went to open the door, on tinning round she found a "Mooruk" behind her, for they seldom went 

 together, generally wandering apart from each other- If any attempt was made to turn them out by 

 force, they would d.nt rapidly round the room, dodging about under the tables, chairs, and sofas, and 

 then end by squatting down under a sofa or in a corner, and it was impossible to remove 

 the bird except by carrying it away. On attempting this, the long, powerful, muscular 

 legs, would begin kicking and struggling, and soon get released, when it would politely 

 walk out of its own accord. I found the best method was to entice them out, as if you had 

 something eatable in the hand, when they would follow the direction in which you wished to lead them. 

 The housemaid, attempting to turn the bird out of one of the rooms, it gave her a kick and tore 

 her dress. They walked into the stable among the horses, poking their bills into the manger. When 

 writing in my study, a chirping, whistling noise is heard, and in walk the Mooruks, who quietly pace 

 round the room inspecting everything, and then as peacably go out again. If any attempt is made to turn 

 them out they hop, dart about, and exhibit a wonderful rapidity of movement, which no one would suppose 

 possible fi( mi their quiet gait and manner at other times. Even in the very tame state of these birds, I 

 have seen sufficient of them to know that if they were loose in a wood, it would be almost impossible to 

 catch them, and almost as difficult to shoot them. One day, when apparently frightened at something that 

 occurred, I saw one of them scour round the yard at a swift pace, and speedily disappear under the 

 archway so rapidly that the eye could hardly follow it, upsetting all the poultry in its progress that could 

 not get out of the way. The low T er part of the stable door, about four feet high, was kept shut to prevent 

 them going in ; but this proved no obstacle, as it was easily leaped over by these birds. They 

 never appeared to take any notice of, or be frightened at, the Jabfru, or Gigantic Crane, which was 

 in the same yard, although that sedate, stately bird w r as not pleased at their intrusion. One day I 

 remarked the Jabiru spreading his long wings and clattering his beak opposite one of the "Mooruks," 

 as if in ridicule of their wingless condition. " Mooruk," on the other hand, was pruning its feathers 

 and spreading out its funny little apology for wings, as if proud of displaying the stiff horny shafts 

 with which they were adorned. Captain Devlin says the natives consider them to a certain degree 

 sacred, rear them as pets, and have great affection for them. He is not aware that they are used 

 for food, but if so, not generally ; indeed their shy disposition and power of rapid running, darting 

 through the brake and bush, would almost preclude their capture. The height of the largest or male 

 of these young birds, to the top of the back, was two feet two inches, and of the female two feet. 

 The height of the largest, or male bird, when erect, to the top of the head, was three feet two inches.'' 



" The pair of Mooruks," says Dr. Schleter in his ' Notes on the Incubation of Strathious 

 Birds,' "which we received from Australia in 1858 have last year, and again this year, bred in the 

 Zoological Gardens. The male performs the duties of incubation, the female not interfering in the 

 matter. Last year, after an incubation which lasted seven weeks, a single young one was hatched on the 

 4th September, but was unfortunately destroyed by rats the same day. This year the male commenced 

 to sit on the 25th of April, on six eggs, and we hope to be more fortunate. 



An egg laid in the Zoological Gardens was " pale grass green, closely freckled with a paler 

 colouring, and much smoother and more finely granulated than that of the common Cassowary. It 

 measured 6.0 inches by 3.45 inches, and weighed 22£ ozs. Its shape is more elongated and pyriform 

 than that of the Cassowary or Emu." ( Gould ). 



