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Show 32 PROF. W. H. FLOWER ON THE AUSTRALIAN CASSOWARY. [Jan. 3, 6. ARDEA SACRA, Gml.; Finsch et Hartl. /. c. p. 201 ; id. Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 136 (Tonga). One specimen in full dress with well-developed seasonal plumes, but quite white, having only a few slate-coloured feathers on the back. Bill yellow with brown culmen ; feet dark. " Iris yellow; bill luteous with dusky shades; legs and feet greenish-yellow." (Garrett.) Long. al. caud. rostr. tars. tib. dig. med. 10" 3"' 3" 3'" 3" 1'" 2" 7'" 15'" 2" 1'" 7. GYGIS ALBA, Sparrm. ; Finsch et Hartl. 1. c p. 232 ; id. Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 140. One specimen, adult. " Irides deep blackish brown ; basal half of bill light blue, the other half black ; legs and feet bluish slate." (Garrett.) Long. al. rect. ext. rect. med. culmen. tars. dig. med. 9" 5'" 4" 6'" 3" 10'" 18!'" H'" 10'" 4. On the Skeleton of the Australian Cassowary (Casuarius australis). By W . H. FLOWER, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S. [Received January 3, 1871.] The external characters by which this species is distinguished from the other members of the genus are described by Mr. Sclater (P.Z.S. 1868, p. 376), and are also well portrayed in the last number of the supplement to Mr. Gould's 'Birds of Australia.' A skeleton of a very fine adult specimen, presented to the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons by Mr. Sclater, having been obtained by Messrs. Scott near their station at the Valley of Lagoons in Northern Queensland, has supplied materials for the following comparison with that of C. galeatus. Of the latter species I have examined three individuals-two belonging to the Museum of the College of Surgeons, and one kindly lent me by Mr. E. Gerrard, jun., for the purpose of comparison. Unfortunately the sex of the bird was not recorded in either case. From the table of dimensions given below, it will be seen that there is a considerable difference of size among the three specimens of C. galeatus, but that the largest individual of this species is considerably exceeded in every dimension by the specimen of C. australis, so that the fact that the latter species attains to a greater size than C. galeatus, as stated by Mr. Sclater, is confirmed*. In the skull, the only important difference observable between the two species is in the shape of the supracranial crest, formed in both of very light cancellar or spongy bony tissue, with an external layer no thicker than fine paper, and which is covered, in the living * The specimen described by Dr. F. Mueller (see P. Z. S. 1867, p. 241) is stated to have been of smaller size than C. galeatus. |