ABOUT THE CASSOWARY. 
273 
tion of their habits. Tims ; in New Guinea, Miiller was never able 
to catch sight of one, though he often came upon the trail of the 
bird, and heard him in the bushes. At Ceram, Wallace was unable 
to secure a specimen, though he was convinced of his presence in all 
the places he visited. Those which have been brought to Europe 
have been caught when very young and brought up by the natives ; 
a fact which explains their general confidence and gentleness, for 
in liberty they exhibit exactly the opposite qualities. According 
to Bennett's statement, the first tw^o raooruks which fell into his 
hands were brought by the New Britain natives on board his ship, 
the Oberon. The islanders asserted that it was impossible to catch 
the old birds, on account of their timidity and suspiciousness; they 
took flight at the least sound, and, owing to their speed of foot, 
speedily gained the intertangled shades of the impenetrable forest. 
In order to secure the young, they pounced upon them almost as 
soon as they were hatched. The birds of which Bennett speaks 
were very tame ; they ran freely about his house and garden, — 
fearlessly approaching a,ny person who was in the habit of feeding 
them. After a while they grew so bold as to disturb the servants 
while at work ; they entered the open doors, followed the inmates 
step by step, pried and peered into every corner of the kitchen, 
leaped upon the chairs and tables, flocked round the busy and 
bountiful cook. If an attempt were made to catch them, they 
immediately took to flight, hid under or among the furniture, and 
lustily defended themselves with beak and claw. But as soon as 
they were left alone they returned, of their own accord, to their 
accustomed place. If a servant-maid endeavoured to drive them 
away, they struck her and rent her garments. They would penetrate 
into the stables among the horses, and eat with them, quite sociably, 
out of the rack. Frequently they pushed open the door of Bennett's 
study, walked all around it gravely and quietly, examined ever}' 
article, and retired as noiselessly as they came. Whatever was new 
attracted them ; not a sound escaped their attention. 
The cassowary differs greatly from the ostrich in his gait. He 
does not run; he trots, — keeping his body horizontal, and the long 
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