ALARM AMONGST THE COCKATOOS. 193 



concert, beating niarrow-bones and cleavers, and all 

 rough music imaginable. 



Wondering what could be the cause of a reception 

 so uncourteous, where before we had always been a 

 welcome visitor, we approached an old favourite 

 cockatoo, and, reproachfully holding up a little walk- 

 ing-cane before her face, began to expostulate with 

 her upon such behaviour. We could scarcely have 

 imagined the picture of rage and terror that the 

 bird presented : with crest erected to the uttermost, 

 staring eyes, and limbs trembling all over, she re- 

 treated to the extreme limits of her chain, and struck 

 with her wings at my cane, as if fighting for very life ; 

 and so indeed she was, or thought she was, for, on 

 my attention being thus directed to my little cane, I 

 appreciated at once the cause of her fury the head 

 of the walking-stick was carved in imitation of that of 

 a serpent, with brilliant eyes, and a most grim and 

 threatening aspect : the supposed appearance of so 

 terrible a foe amongst their peaceful party had, by an 

 instinct true and natural, roused them to self-defence, 

 affording at once a proof of the carver's skill who 

 had so ornamented my rattan, and an illustration of 

 instinctive horror of a very interesting character. 



But we can by no means say it was with the same 

 feelings of admiration that we, on a subsequent occa- 

 sion, witnessed an exhibition of sham terror upon a 

 somewhat similar pretence. Net in hand, we were 

 climbing over the scars, and making our way among 

 the slippery sea- weeds in search of specimens for the 

 aquarium of a friend, when we happened to light upon 

 an Ophiurus, a very fine little fellow, full of life and 



K 



