CASSOWARIES AT NEWTOWN ZOO

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 124, 19 February 1941, Page 9

CASSOWARIES AT NEWTOWN ZOO

Pair Of Young Birds

THEIR SIMILARITY TO EXTINCT MOA

A pair of young cassowaries, about nine months old, has arrived at the Wellington Zoo from Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney. The birds, which are in splendid condition, are at present lining acclimatized to Wellington weather. Shortly they will be seen in an enclosure about an acre in extent behind the rose garden at the southern end of the zoo.

Not having attained maturity, the birds have not yet assumed the brilliant colouring of head and wattles distinctive of the full-grown cassowary. They are Papuan cassowaries, of the type found in New Guinea and the adjacent islands, which differs slightly from the Queensland cassowary. Of all birds living today, the cassowary most closely resembles the extinct moa of New Zealand. Like the moa, it is heavily-built, with enormously powerful legs. The moa was reputed to be able to kill a man with a kick; the cassowary bears a similar reputation as a formidable tighter. Otte of the young birds at the zoo, enraged at being disturbed by the keeper who was placing it in its new quarters, shattered with a few blows of its feet the wooden case in which it had been transported. A last runner, when brought to bay the cassowary sits down to light, bringing both feet into play.

q’be appearance of the adult cassowary is extraordinary, and created a profound impression on the first Europeans to set eyes on one, less than a century ago. Stockily and massively built, with only vestiges of wings, the bird stands about live feet high. In size it is exceeded only by emu and ostrich. Its body is covered with coarse, hairy, black feathers, with a number of stiff spines on the icingstumps. The head and neck are bare of feathers, with blue, orange and scarlet wattles, and a curious horny crest on the top of the head. The eggs of the cassowary are not unlike emu eggs, but even larger, with strong, rough shells. They take eight weeks to hatch. The bird is a scrub dweller, building a rough nest of sticks and leaves. The chicks are yellowbrown, striped with black. As with emu and kiwi, the cock bird batches the The pair at the zoo will share their run with a number of Australian brush turkeys, birds which normally have a similar habitat and with which they will be likely to live on friendly terms.