4 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
3. Cassowary Casuarius casuarius Linne 
Cas-u-ar-i-as —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, gut¬ 
tural croakings, quickly repeated, or a short but deep booming grunt. 
Food: native fruits, seeds, berries, and leaves. 
Nest. —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 novce-hollandice Latham 
Cer-e-ops -is —L., cera, wax; Gk, opsis, 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. 
Eggs. —Four to seven, creamy-white, the surface being coated with 
lime. Breeding-season: June to September. 
5. Bustard Eupodotis australis Gray 
Eu-pod-o-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 uninterrupted view 
of the sui r ounding country Being a ground-dwelling and ground-breeding 
bird, it tails an easy prey to the introduced fox, but the man with a gun 
is its chief enemy. During the breeding-period the male displa}'s in an 
extraordinary manner, and utters his peculiar call—a low, hollow roar, 
difficult to describe in words. Its food consists of large insects (chieflv 
grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets), grass, and green herbage; also fruits 
and berries of low-growing vegetation. 
T"??i ne made ’■ £ enerall y the eggs are laid on the bare ground, 
sheltered by tall grass or a low bush. 
