W H I T E ' S J O U R N A L O F A
are much more like thofc of the oftrich than the common
Caflowary, both ia ftiape .and frfce. Upon the upper part
o f the head the feathers, with which it ’is but thinly
covered, are very fmall, looking more like hair than feathers,
and in having the neck pretty well clothed with
them, except the chin and throat, which are fo thinly
covered, that the flrih, which: is them of a purpliih colour,
may be feea clearly. The fmall wings are ."exceedingly
fliortj which form a ridiculous'jcontraft with the' body,
as they are eyen lefs than thofe of the Caffowary : they
have no large quills in them, being only covered with the
fmall feathers that grow all over the body. Another Angularity
alfo prefents itfelf in this fpecies, which is in refped:
to the legs. As to the back part of them, the whole
length is indented, or fawed, in a remarkable a manner.
The toes are three in number, the; tniddle ocib long, the
other two fiiort, with ftrong claws, not unlike the lame
part o f the common fpecies. On examining the vifeera,
they differed from that of every other fpecies of the feathered
kind which I. had ever fecn; particularly in having
no gizzard, or fecoad ftomach; and the liver was fo
very fmall, that it did not exceed in fize that of a black-
3 M ■ ' . bird.
bird. To this fiver was joined a large gall-bladder, well 1788,
diftended with bile. ;: The crop, or ftomach,, was filled , Marein
with at leaft fix orfeven pounds of graft, flowers, and a
£$W betries and feeds- The inteffibml qanal was-at leaft
fiy yards long, very wide, and of a regular cylindrical fliape
from the opening of the ftomach to the vent. The heart -
and lungs were Separated by a diaphragm or midriff, and
bore a tolerable' proportion to the fize of the bird. The
ffe&Tjgf.. this bird was very good, and tafted not unlike
young tender beef. ..1
„ This bird is fuppofed to be not uncommon in New
ffplland, as it has been frequently feen by our Settlers
both at Botany Bay and P^rt yac&fari'rJbxi\. is exceedingly
fly, and runs faftcr than a grey hounds Qne of them
however has been flint*, s
■ March 9tbi The governor, with two long boats manned
and armed, returned from Broken Bay, fituated a little to the
northward, which he had been exploring for feveral days.
It affords good Ihelter for {hipping, and the entrance is bold;
a from A S bird, o f whfc}irSri5dngravinglSyannfes:ed; ItLhas
been lately fent to England by tjhe, governor, as a prefent to L 0fd SydH.^yj who,
.through the. medium of Sir ^Jofcph Banks, has dijnoftteU^i^Sthecol^dtidtis'of
Natural Hiftfrry'of *M4\ John Honrerihl]Leic&R;ep-Sqtfarm
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