THE CASSOWARY. 
The Cassowary of New South Wales is thus 
described by Latham : — It is blackish ; the 
crown flat ; its body bristly ; its head and neck 
planted with quills, and its legs serrated behind. 
The head and beak are much more like 
those of the Ostrich ; the tongue has a broad 
root, serrated sides, and pointed top. This bird 
is exceedingly swift of foot, and strikes severely 
with its heel when pursued. It frequently mea- 
sures nearly seven feet when standing erect. 
Its flesh is said to be similar in flavour to beef. 
The hen lays a number of eggs, which are 
rather less than those of the Ostrich ; they are 
nearly of an oval shape, and of a bottle-green 
colour. The principal material of the nest is 
dried fern : it is usually constructed on the 
ground, on the borders of a swamp. 
( 16 ) 
