ORNITHOLOGY IN 1851. 
I saw the bird enter the bower and disappear, when I fired at ran- 
dom through the twigs, fortunately with effect. 
In the narrative of Mr. Kennedy’s disastrous expedition, we have 
the notice of the Cape York Cassowary, sufficient to identify it as 
such, but which we only yet know by this report, “ This morning 
Jackey went to examine a scrub through which we wanted to pass, 
and while out, shot a fine Cassowary. It was very dark and heavy, 
not so long on the leg as the common Emu, and had a larger body, 
shorter neck, with a large, red, stiff, horny comb on its head. Mr. 
Wall skinned it; but from the many difficulties with which he had 
to contend, the skin was spoiled before it could be properly pre- 
served.” “ January 7th, along with a shooting party I landed soon 
after daylight on the westermost Duchateau island. Numbers of 
Nicobar pigeons left it as we approached, having apparently used 
it merely as a roosting place. W e procured about fifty Pigeons 
and a few of Duperrey’s Megapodius. In habits this last bird resem- 
bles the Australian species, especially in constructing enormous 
mounds for the reception of its eggs. Those which I saw, averaged 
five feet in height and fifteen in diameter, and were composed of 
the sandy soil of the neighbourhood, mixed up with rotten sticks 
and leaves, but without any shells or coral. Some were placed at 
the outer margin of the thickets, close to the beach, and others were 
scattered about more inland. This bird is apparently very pugna- 
ceous at times, as I frequently saw them chasing each other along 
the ground, running with great swiftness, and uttering their cry 
more loudly than usual, stopping short suddenly and again starting 
off in pursuit. The cry consists of one or two shrill notes, uttered 
at intervals, and ending in a hurried tremulous cry, repeated five ox- 
six times. Its food is entirely procured on the ground, and consists 
of insects and their larva? (especially the pupa? of ants), small snails, 
and vai-ious fallen seeds and fruits.” 
In the appendix to Yol. n. there is a “ Catalogue of the Birds of 
the North-east Coast of Australia and Torres Sti-aits.” This is a 
mere list, arranged in three columns — 1st, That portion of the 
north-east coast of Australia and its islands, included between the 
Tropic of Capricorn and latitude 17" 45' south, or the parallel of 
the bottom of the Gulf of Carpentaria; 2d, remainder of the north- 
east coast as far to the southward as Cape York; 3d, devoted to 
the islands of Torres Straits, from Raine Islet to Bramble Bay. 
