CASSO WARIES. 
565 
Habits. 
In being forest-haunting birds, cassowaries differ essentially from 
the ostriches and rheas; and appear to be generally shy and but 
seldom seen in their native haunts. Unfortunately, however, we are still in want 
of good accounts of the habits of these birds in their wild state. Those brought to 
Europe (where they will lay freely) are characterised by their extreme tameness 
and docility; but this, it is said, is largely due to their being mostly, if not in¬ 
variably, specimens which have been reared from early chickenhood in captivity 
by the natives, among whom these birds are treated almost like domestic fowls. 
The Australian 
species is reported 
to frequent rocky 
wooded districts, 
where as many 
as seven or eight 
may be seen to¬ 
gether, keeping 
almost entirely 
to the more open 
portion of the 
scrub, and seldom 
venturing out 
into the plains. 
From July to 
September, at 
least, it is known 
to feed chiefly 
upon an egg- 
shaped blue 
berry; and its 
entire food is 
probably of a 
vegetable nature. 
Regarding the 
muruk, Bennett 
was informed that the natives of New Britain capture these birds “ w T hen very 
young, soon after they are hatched, and rear them by hand, but can rarely or 
never capture the adult, from its being so shy and difficult of approach. They 
are exceedingly swift of foot, and possessed of great strength in their legs. On 
the least alarm they elevate the head, and, on seeing danger, dart among the 
thick bushes, thread localities where no human being can follow them, and dis¬ 
appear with incredible rapidity. The muruk, with its powerful legs and muscular 
thighs has an extraordinary power of leaping.” This species utters a kind of 
chirping cry, susceptible of modulations according to the occasion. Unlike the 
emeu, which kicks outwards and backwards, cassowaries invariably kick forwards, 
at the same time elongating their bodies; in captivity they will not unfrequently 
perform a kind of war-dance around any object that attracts their attention, 
SKULL OF AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY. 
(From Sir W. H. Flower, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871.) 
