Walter Good fellow—Some Beminiscences of a Collector 185


companionship with me, and remained constantly by my side, gentle

and inoffensive, without that grabbing propensity of trying to swallow

anything laying about which attracts their attention, common to many

of them. It dearly loved to be nursed, and used to get on my knees

as far as such a big bird could. When I was engaged on work at the

table or during meal times it either lay at my feet or with as much

of its body over my knees as it could get, or stood behind my

chair with its head and neck resting over my shoulder. At night it

settled down by the side of my camp bed, and on the island of Sorong,

where mosquito nets were unnecessary, it often during the night

slept with its head under my blanket. Many times it felt about

with its beak in the dark on the outside of the bed to make sure I was

still there. At such times if I rested my hand on it for a little while

it settled down contentedly to sleep again.


Every morning I made a complete tour of the little island to collect

wild fruits for my birds, and on these occasions “ Kitty ” always

came with me, keeping close by my side. There was one tiny bay of

white coral sand where I always rested for a time under an overhanging

tree while “ Kitty ” went into the sea for a bath. There were many

other Cassowaries running about in the village, but of these she took

no notice whatever, in fact she carefully avoided them. Many other

charming traits she had which have now escaped my memory.


Just before I had “ Kitty ” I was living at Humbolt’s Bay, not far

from the frontier of what was then German New Guinea. Here I had

many eggs of this species brought to me. The usual colour of course

is green, but some were even cream coloured, and others ranged through

all shades of green, some yellowish ones being especially beautiful.

One day the chief of a large village near by brought in an egg from

which the chick inside could be heard squeeking, therefore I thought

it must be on the point of hatching. As it felt cold I wrapped it in a

flannel cholera belt and put it in my shirt to warm up. It was still

squeaking but not so loudly when I went to bed that night, so I placed

it by my side under the blanket. Here I imagine some will think what

a quiet sleeper I must be. Well I am, I suppose, because during

years of this sort of life one is always adopting all sorts of motherless

creatures, which if very young must be brought to bed for warmth.



