OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 281 



In the heavy foliage and deep shadows the Cockatoos 

 certainly sport " Hke spirits of light," but they seem to act 

 like spirits of darkness in the wheatfield. 



The illustration adjacent shows a flock of the w^hite section 

 of Cockatoos found occupying the dry open land of the back 

 country. They are the Bare-eyed Cockatoos. 



The food consists of seeds, grain, and bulbs. In captivity 

 a Cockatoo will eat a miscellaneous lot, and say a deal in the 

 process. 



Nest. — A hollow at a high altitude in a large eucalypt is 

 used, and the eggs hatch out on the dry dust. 



Eggs. — Two for a sitting; white. Length, 1.5 inches; 

 breadth, 1.2 inches. 



We have strong evidence to show us that all Cockatoos are 

 not harmful. The black-plumaged portion have rather a 

 good name. The eastern and western side of southern 

 AustraHa each has its own species of Cockatoo, differing 

 principally in the colour of the ear coverts. The western 

 form is marked on that region with white, the eastern form 

 with yellow. Both are useful birds from a forester's point of 

 view. 



Concerning the eastern one I append a few remarks. It 

 is the Black Cockatoo {Calyftorhynchus funereus, Shaw). 

 This species is found in the moist mountainous parts of 

 Australia. Three or more great birds screeching in their 

 heavy flight along a humid valley impresses one. 



The staple diet of the Funeral species is the larvae of the 

 Goat Moth or similar kinds, according to their abundance, 

 and I venture to say partiality is shown for them as by the 

 Roman epicure, the Australian bushman, or the aborigine. 

 The present writer has also found them "tasty." I have 

 seen great trees almost denuded of their bark by the attacks 



