AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY. 
branches of trees striking the helmet shde over it on to the back. Otherwise 
in the dense vine-scrubs bordering the Herbert River and elsewhere progress 
would be greatly impeded ; but as it is, the Cassowaries traverse the scrubs 
with wonderful speed, jumping over fallen trees and logs when in the way. 
A young bird (the identical specimen, I believe, forwarded by His Excellency 
the Marquis of Normanby to the Society), while in the possession of Inspector 
Johnstone, during my visit succeeded in jumping out of its yard over a fence more 
than six feet in height. I measured the fence, and found it six feet six inches 
to the top rail, on which its feet-marks were plainly visible ; the length of the 
yard was only 12 by 12 feet. I found the adult Cassowaries in fuU moult 
in March ; but the new feathers had not all made their appearance in May. 
During these months specimens in confinement were remarkably irritable 
and frequently sulky, even refusing their food (which they invariably do when 
unwell), and were at times very spiteful, even attacking their keepers ; but 
strangers chiefly come in for a share of their dislike. At all times I have 
noticed they are very fond of bathing ; the semi-adult bird before alluded to, 
which I forwarded to the Society, was remarkable in this respect, and might 
frequently be seen waiting at the pump in the yard until someone came for 
water, when he would sit down quietly under a copious shower, stretching out 
his neck and ruffling his feathers up to allow the water to reach the skin. They 
do not hke any exposure, and always endeavour to get out of the sun. In the 
wild state they seldom leave the scrubs, and certainly never do so in the heat 
of the day unless hard pressed ; but on the whole they are remarkably hardy, 
and bear confinement well.”* 
From my own experience, gained more than fifteen years ago, when I spent 
a few years between Cardwell and the J ohnson River, I can confirm most of what 
Dr. Ramsay has written. I did not meet with it near Cardwell, the Tully 
River Scrub being the first place in which I saw it. 
I there found the only two nests I have ever seen, both of them situated in 
the scrub. One had three, the other four eggs. 
What most surprised me was the rapidity with which the bird got through 
the almost impenetrable scrub. It used to appear on the path cut through this 
jungle for our cattle to pass, but would instantly disappear on our approach. 
Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley sends me the following notes ; — “ Some idea of 
the strength of this bird can be gauged by its weight, which in an 
exceptional case weighed 250 lbs., whilst the heaviest Emu has reached 
only 150 lbs. The average weight of the Cassowary, however, is from 160 to 
200 lbs., and of the Emu from 90 to 120 lbs. for adult birds. The Cassowary 
loves to roam where the lawyer vines {Calamus) rope the surrounding vegetation 
together, forming an almost impenetrable jungle, and where the Ficus ^ or 
* Ramsay, P.Z.S., p. 120 (1876). 
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