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Dr Knox on the Anatomical Structure of the 
Art. XXL — Observations on the Anatomical Structure of' the 
Cassowary of New Holland (Casuarius Novae Hollandiae, 
Cuv.) By Robert Knox, M. D. F. R. S. E 
J^Vn opportunity having occurred to me lately, of examining, 
though in a cursory manner, both species of Cassowary at present 
known, viz. that found in the Indian Islands, and long since de- 
scribed under the name of theGaleated Cassowary, and the species 
lately discovered in Australasia, and generally distinguished by 
the name of Emeu Casuary, some remarkable differences in ihe 
internal structure presented themselves, confirmative of an opi- 
nion already formed by naturalists, that these birds constitute 
distinct species. I shall limit myself to a very brief notice of 
these differences, as well because the specimens were greatly 
mutilated, and the time allowed for the dissection (owing to the 
weather) very short, as likewise because leisure is wanting to 
enable me to become acquainted with the dissections of the same 
species of birds which may have been performed by others. 
On referring to the Sy sterna Natures ofLinn£eus, I find that the 
Emeu of New Holland was unknown to him. It is slightly men- 
tioned by Professor Blumenbach, in his Manual of Natural His- 
tory, as a new species lately discovered in New Holland, but it 
is not described. The compilers of the Dictiorinaire des Sciences 
Naturellesf describe the bird at some length, as being a new 
species, quite distinct from the Galeated Cassowary or Struthio 
Casuarius of Linnaeus. No mention is made of the internal struc- 
ture in either bird. The ‘‘ Regne Animald'' of Baron Cuvier 
describes these birds as forming two distinct species, and which 
might even be considered as genera. They are characterized by 
the names of Struthio Casuarius and Casuanrius Novee Hollandiee. 
No mention is made of the internal structure in the latter. Fi- 
nally, in the celebrated Lemons d'Anatomie Cornpareef one 
species only is mentioned, viz. the Galeated Cassowary. 
After this very brief notice of the history of these birds, I 
shall proceed to compare their internal structures . The carcases, 
in both specimens, were extremely fat, and the abdominal cavity 
remarkably so. They were females. The galeated cassowary had 
* Jlead before the Wernerian Natural History Society, 26th April 1823. 
