262 
YERTEBEATA. 
tives and Europeans, for the sake of their flesh, that of the young birds being described as very 
delicate, while that of the old ones is compared to beef. Their eggs also are eaten ; and it is said 
that during their breeding season, the natives of some parts of Australia live almost entirely upon 
Emeu's eggs. The old birds ai'e hunted by trained dogs, which have been taught to avoid the 
powerful kicks of their quarry, by running up alongside of the bird and then springing suddenly 
upon its neck. They are monogamous, and the males, as in the case of the Ehea, perform the 
duties of incubation. The eggs are nearly as large as that of the Ostrich, but of a dark color ; 
and the young, when first hatched, are rather elegantly striped with black and whitish-gray. 
THE CASSOWARY. 
Germs CASUARIUS : Casiiarms. — To this belongs the Cassowary, C. galeahts, an inhabitant 
of the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. It stands about five feet in height, and is distinguished 
from the other members of the family by the possession of a peculiar horny crest or helmet upon 
the head, by the wings being furnished, instead of feathers, with about five cylindrical stalks des- 
titute of barbs, and by the large size of the claw on the inner toe. The head and neck are naked 
and wattled, and these parts are of a bright red color, variegated with bine. The body, whicli is 
very stoiit, is covered with long pendent feathers, which resemble hair even more closely than 
those of the Emeu. It feeds upon fruits, herbage, and seeds, and, like the Ostrich, swallows hard 
substances, probably to assist the action of the gizzard. The eggs are of a greenish tint. 
The MooRUK, C. Bennetti, is a very curious bird, recently discovered in New Caledonia, and a 
specimen of which is in the London Zoological Gardens, Its habits are similar to those of the 
cassowary; it has, however, no horny crest; its cry is Mooruk^ whence its name. Its history is 
yet very imperfect. 
APTERYGID^. 
Genus AFTER YX: Ax)teryx. — This includes t^vo species of birds, inhabitants of New Zealand: 
the A. Australis and ji. Oweni. These are distinguished by the elongated slender form of the 
bill, whicli bears the nostrils at the tip of the upper mandible, by the comparative shortness of 
the legs, and the presence of a short hind toe, furnished with a strong claw. The wings are per- 
fectly rudimentary, and concealed under the feathers, which resemble those of the Emeu. 
