4 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
3. Cassowary Casuarius casuarius Linne 
Cas-u-af d-us— N.L., casuarius, from Malay casoar. 
distribution. North-eastern Queensland (Cardwell to the Pascoe 
River); also occurs in Ceram, the Aru Islands, and New Guinea. 
notes. Usually singly, frequenting the dense scrubs. It is excep¬ 
tionally wary and timid, keeping to the thickest parts of the scrubs 
during the day, venturing forth towards evening and at daybreak to 
visit its favourite feeding-trees. Its call-note is a series of prolonged, 
harsh, guttural croakings, quickly repeated, or a short but deep boom¬ 
ing grunt. Food: native fruits, seeds, berries, and leaves. 
vest. A bed of sticks, leaves, and such-like vegetable debris, about 
3 feet in diameter; usually placed near the base of a large tree in 
dense scrub. 
eggs. Three to five, light pea-green, the shell being coarse and 
granulated. Breeding-season: July to September. 
4. Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis nova-hollandia Latham 
Cer-e-ops'-is— L., cera, wax; Gk, ops is, appearance: novce-hollandice— 
of New Holland. 
distribution. Coastal southern Australia, Tasmania, and the 
islands of Bass Strait. 
notes. Also called Pig Goose. Usually in pairs or small flocks, fre¬ 
quenting grass-lands and swampy areas. It is an extremely wary and 
timid species; unfortunately it is becoming rare. The name Pig Goose 
is due to its grunt-like notes. Food: grass and herbage. 
nest. A large and rather flat structure, composed of dried grass and 
plants, and lined with down; placed on the ground. 
f.ggs. Four to seven, creamy-white, the surface being highly polished. 
Breeding-season: June to September. 
5. Bustard Eupodotis australis Gray 
Eu-pod-d'-tis—Gk, eupous, eupodos, having good feet; Gk, otis, otidos, 
bustard: australis— southern (Australian). 
distribution. Australia generally. 
notes. Also called Plain Turkey. Usually singly or in pairs, occa¬ 
sionally in small flocks, frequenting chiefly the inland plains. It is a 
wary bird, generally keeping to situations where it has an uninter¬ 
rupted view of the surrounding country. Being a ground-dwelling 
and ground-breeding bird, it falls an easy prey to the introduced 
fox, but the man with a gun is its chief enemy. During the breeding- 
period the male displays in an extraordinary manner, and utters his 
peculiar call—a low, hollow roar, difficult to describe in words. Its 
food consists of large insects (chiefly grasshoppers, beetles, and 
crickets), grass, and green herbage; also fruits and berries of low- 
growing vegetation. 
nest. None made; generally the eggs are laid on the bare ground, 
sheltered by tall grass or a low bush. 
