CASSOWARY . — Casmrius Emu. 
The Cassowary inhabits the Malaccas. This fine bird is remarkable for the 
helmet-like projection on the head, and the character of the feathers.. 
The plumage of the body is very hair-like, being composed of long and almost 
naked shafts, two springing from the same tube, and one always being longer 
than the other. At the roots of the shafts there is a small tuft of delicate down, 
sufficiently thick to supply a warm and soft inner garment, but yet so small as to 
be hidden by the long hair-like plumage. Even the tail is furnished with the 
same curious covering, and the wings are clothed after a similar manner, with the 
exception of five black, stiff, strong, pointed quills, very like the large quills of 
the porcupine, and being of different lengths, the largest not exceeding one foot, 
and generally being much battered about the point. When stripped of its 
feathers, the whole limb only extends some three inches in length. An adult 
male is about three feet in height. 
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