140 THE SPEAKING PABROTS. 



single words, or even sentences, very well ; but they do not even 

 approach the readiness and extent of knowledge of words 

 possessed by the former. 



Apart from its beauty, which is greatly enhanced when, in 

 unwonted excitement, the bird erects its variegated crest, as 

 well as some of the feathers on the bod}^ a healthy Cockatoo which 

 feels itself contented and comfortable is one of the merriest birds 

 imaginable. Its liveliness and pleasing ways, and, still more, 

 its comical behaviour, surpass description. Nodding and bowing 

 in the drollest manner, lifting its variegated feathers in 

 changeful play, it gambols, tumbles, and climbs with amusing 

 vivacity, imitating other birds, not only in their movements, 

 but in the words they have learnt, and, above all, in their 

 cries. Mr. A. E. Blaauw states, however, that his experience 

 leads him to think that when several Cockatoos are kept 

 together they scream less frequently : '' These gregarious birds 

 like to see each other, they exchange bows and erect their 

 crests ; in short, they find life less tedious, and tediousness 

 is the chief cause of the screams of a cockatoo." With 

 affectionate treatment, contrary to other parrots, the Cockatoo 

 soon becomes surprisingly tame and gentle. But there are 

 some not only wild and uncontrollable, but even extremely 

 vicious. A Cockatoo, for example, which is always gentle to 

 its master may, however, bite strangers : indeed, it has been 

 found that a bird, hitherto good and affectionate, has all at 

 once, without apparent reason, become wicked and furious. 

 In such cases its bites may be extremely dangerous. Besides, 

 there are instances in which Cockatoos show a remarkable 

 memory for injuries received ; they have borne in mind for 

 years an act of punishment or teasing, and have revencred 

 themselves at a favourable opportunit}^ 



The comparatively small number of Cockatoos which were 

 formerly imported alive into Europe were taken from the nests 

 by the natives and reared by hand, but this is no longer the 

 case. Cockatoos, like most other tropical birds, are caught in 

 large numbers in nets, and exported to Europe by wholesale 

 buyers. All species now come into the market annually in 

 considerable numbers, and the prices have risen a good deal. 



We find these beautiful birds principally as an ornament in 

 zoological gardens and other collections. That it has not 

 attained to more general favour is probably due, apart from the 

 causes mentioned by Mr. Dulitz (p. 139), to the fact that such 



