4 NATURAL HISTORY. 
To the beauty of its plumage this bird owes its des 
. ftruction. But, in retura, it triumphs. over man ; 
for the feathers which its death affords the purfuers, 
attend the hearfe of man to the grave. 
—$oScMEME NG 40H— 
CASSOWARY. 
Tu 1S bird, which is found in the fouthern parts of 
the Eaft Indies, isabout five feet anda half high. The 
wings are fo {mall, as to be fcarcely perceptible. It 
has acieft on its head, refembling a helmet, three 
inches high. Though every feather of this bird is a- 
dapted for flight, none are entirely deftined for cover- 
ing. ‘Che extremities of them are armed with five 
iharp prick!es, the longeft of which is eleven inches, 
Itis defcribed to have the head of a warrior, the eye 
ofa lion, defence of aporcupine, ana fleetnefsof a . 
courfer. But though provided thus formidably, it is 
perfectly inoffenfive. it neither walks, runs, hops, 
jumps, or flies; but kicking up one leg behind, it 
bounds forward with the other, with a velocity not to 
- be equalled by the fwifteft Arabian. 
This bird, like the oftrich, extremely voracious of 
all things capable of paffing its fwallow. The Dutch 
affert, that it not only devours glafs, iron, and ftones, © 
but even burning coals, without the leaft fear or inju- 
ry. Fromvits fcarcity, it is generally fuppofed not to 
be fo prolific as the oftrich; butthis may be more ow- 
ing to their native place being ufurped by man, than 
from any defect in its nature; for, both its natural 
- armour and -digeftive power, are convincing proofs 
that it is deftined for the defert, and not for cultivated 
plainss So that, like other wild creatures. when they 
have, in vain, difputed with man the poffeffion of their 
own térritories they may have withdrawn themfelves 
to fome folitary defert, far from the prying eye of 
man, and for which they are fo peculiarly formed. 
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