STRUTHrONIX.li. 
This  bird  is  spread  over  the  greatest  part  of  New  Holland  and  the  adjacent  islands,  preferring  the  open  shrubby 
places  and  sandy  plains.  It  is  extremely  shy,  and  possesses  great  power  of  speed,  which  causes  it  to  be  taken  with 
difficulty.  It  readily  takes  to  the  water,  and  swims  with  the  body  mostly  submerged  beneath  the  surface.  It  feeds 
chiefly  on  fruits,  roots,  and  various  kinds  of  herbage.  The  eggs,  six  or  seven  in  number,  are  probably  laid  in  a  slight 
hollow  scratched  in  the  earth.  The  male  bird  hatches  the  eggs,  and  carefully  brings  up  the  young,  until  they  are  able 
to  provide  for  themselves. 
D.  novce  hollandia  (Lath.)  White's  Journ.pl.  1.  —  Dromaius  ater  Vieill.  ;  D.  emu  Steph.  ;  D.  australis  Swains. 
Casuarius  Linn.* 
Bill  long,  compressed,  with  the  culmen  curved  to  the  tip,  which  overlaps  that  of  the  under  mandible ; 
the  nostrils  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  bill,  and  in  a  broad  membranous  groove,  with  the  opening 
anteriorly  and  suboval.  Wings  consisting  of  five  strong  rounded  shafts  without  webs.  Tail  not 
apparent.  Tarsi  long,  robust,  and  covered  with  large  hexagonal  scales,  except  near  the  toes,  where 
the  scales  are  transverse.  Toes  long,  the  lateral  ones  shorter  than  the  middle  one,  the  outer  the 
longest,  and  the  inner  armed  with  a  very  long  powerful  claw  ;  the  other  claws  moderate,  curved,  and 
obtuse.  The  head  and  base  of  culmen  ornamented  with  an  elevated  compressed  helmet ;  the  head  and 
neck  denuded  of  feathers,  and  with  two  wattles  in  front  of  the  latter. 
It  is  in  the  vast  forests  of  the  Molucca  Islands  and  New  Guinea  that  this  singular  bird  is  found.  It  lives  in  pairs, 
feeding  on  fruits,  herbs,  and  occasionally  on  small  animals.  It  runs  with  rapidity,  and  defends  itself  from  the  attacks  of 
its  enemies  by  means  of  its  feet.    The  female  deposits  three  eggs  on  the  bare  ground. 
C.  emu  Lath.  PI.  enl.  313.  —  Casuarius  galeatus  Vieill.  ;  Struthio  casuarius  Linn. 
*  Established  by  Liniiieus  in  1735.    Cela  of  Mcehring  (1752)  and  Rhea  of  Lace'pede  (1800 — 1801)  are  synonymous. 
March,  1844. 
