A large bird, of the genus Casuarius, found in the east
   Indies. It is smaller and stouter than the ostrich. Its head is armed
   with a kind of helmet of horny substance, consisting of plates
   overlapping each other, and it has a group of long sharp spines on each
   wing which are used as defensive organs. It is a shy bird, and runs
   with great rapidity. Other species inhabit New Guinea, Australia, etc.