CASUARIUS BENNETTHI, Gowda. 
Bennett's Cassowary. 
Casuarius Bennetti, Gould in Proc. of Zool, Soc., part xxv. p. 269, pl. 129.—Gray in Proc, of Zool, Soc., part. XXVl, 
p- 271, pl. 144.—Dr. Bennett in Proc, of Zool. Soc., part xxvii. p. 32. 
Mooruk, Aborigines of New Britain. 
Wo would have supposed the former existence of an extensive group of Struthious birds of great 
magnitude and comprising many species? and what naturalist would have imagined that so much 
of the bony structures of these birds would have been brought to light—that not only their generic but 
their specific characters may be accurately described, and even their entire skeletons mounted in our 
museums? Yet these things have been realized within the last few years, the indefatigable zeal 
and careful study of an Owen having enabled him to determine and arrange the semi-fossilized remains 
of numerous species of a great family of birds which formerly existed on our globe, and of which some 
few remain to testify as to the character of their plumage and their economy of life. It is a living repre- 
sentative of this almost extinct gronp that forms the subject of the present paper, and the discovery 
of which must be hailed with interest, tending as it does to throw a light on the history of those huge 
birds of remote antiquity—the Dinornis and its allies. Professor Owen considers this new bird and the 
Cassowary (Casuarius galeatus) to be the most nearly allied living types of his genus Palapterye ; and if this 
opinion be correct, we may infer that the habits and economy, as well as the kind of plumage and the 
character of country mbhabited by the extinct birds, were very similar. I have always considered 
the Cassowary to belong to a totally different group to the Ostriches, which are adapted for roaming over 
vast plains and open country during the day-time, and to feed upon berries, fruits, mollusks and small 
animals generally ; while the Cassowary, the Mooruk, and the Apteryx are partially or wholly nocturnal, living 
reclusely in the gullies aud hamid parts of dense forests, feeding upon the roots of ferns and other plants 
peculiar to such situations. The hair-like character of their feathers bespeak these habits and mode of 
life, as much as the plumes of the Ostriches do their adaptation for open plains and savannahs. Having 
premised thas much, I now proceed to state that it has been a source of much gratification to myself, that 
I have been enabled, through the kindness of Dr, Bennett of Sydney, further to add to our knowledge of this 
group by making known the existence of an entirely new species of Casuarius; I mention my gratification, 
because I consider this to be one of the most important additions to ornithology I have ever had the good 
fortune to bring before the notice of the scientific world. It is true that the same remark might be made 
with regard to Baleniceps, the Menura Alberti, and many other extraordinary birds 1 have had the pleasure of 
naming ; but the present species and the Apteryu Owen are members of a nearly extinet family of birds, the 
remnants of a group which played an important part in the economy of nature in periods long gone by. How 
much, then, does science owe to Dr. Bennett for having secured and sent this bird to London ¢ and how much 
does the Society in whose possession this valuable donation is deposited, owe to him for Ins Tihevaltty ! Three 
examples of this fine bird, a splendid adult male and two younger specimens, grace the Gardens of the 
Zoological Society of London, where they live side by side with the Ostrich, the Rhea, the Emeu, the 
Apteryx, and its allied congener, the Cassowary. All are in good health 5 and such a display of great 
Struthious birds was never before seen, and probably never will be again, and ought alone to be a sufficient 
attraction for visitors to this justly popular establishment. . 0 
On the arrival of the first Mooruk, I was somewhat sceptical as to ts being specifically distinct from the 
common Cassowary 3 but as the bird increased in size, and the helmet Beene more developed, this suspi- 
cion was dispelled from my mind ; and now that the bird is fully aint it 1s ae that a am rots we 
be more distinet. Compared with the Cassowary, the Mooruk is a smaller and s iorter ird, and has muc 
et, instead of being in the form of an elevated casque with a short rounded 
icker legs; and the helm : ( 
pen sihte rhanging lobes, the horny part which unites 
ridge, rises high at the base, and then branches out ito two ove get oe Dae 
| ‘ e—the back part of this elevated double crest being flat and rising rather 
hem being lowest in the centr | 
Pte ia been carefully depicted in the accompanymg 
obliquely from the head near the occiput. This feature has nile ile CR 
he head of the size of life ; its form will therefore be more clearly perceived by a 
- « , Sif 
however accurate and minute. The colouring of the 
fous mixed with black on the back and under part of the 
the loose wavy skin of the neck was beautifully coloured 
Plate, which represents t 
reference to the Plate than by any description, 
Mooruk, when it first arrived in England, was ru 
ack » neck and breast; 
body, and raven-black about the neck ¢ ad Fee 7 | 
ae idescent tints of bluish purple, pink, and an occasional shade of green 5 and the feet and legs were 
with rimMdesce ) ‘ t 
« ‘ rp 4 a t 
f le ash-colour. The body bas now become generally darker, the bare au: of eae P * 
Cn be Be : a somewhé -er tint. Iam much mdebte 
f tl "had of a more uniform smalt blue, and the legs of a somewhat darker tint a u ae 
of the neck of ¢ : oe re a Pai | 
friend, G. F. Angas Esq., of Sydney, for a very accurate drawing of the young state of this 
| | ‘5 ; : ‘ = 5 . a : , 42 ' a od 
to my oe : nh eee expre him for the great trouble he has taken in making 
bird: and I cannot too strongly © 
ell as for several othet 
to aid science in this way. - 
a just compliment to one who has ever manifested the 
ss my thanks fo he . 
jelineati as W -< that have reached me: 1t 1s pleasing to find a 
these correct delineations, as ™ 
centleman who has the power, willing | i 
Dr. Bennett, after whom 1 have named the bird as 
istor dos presenting the | 
for Natural History, besides prese ing the 
th some interest 
iving birds to the Zoological Society, has enriched 
greatest love 
A 7 =4 “r details as to the habits of the bird while living in 
: Sus agyg> re y ~ 4 
the volumes of their * Proceedings W! 
