142 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



CHAR XLV.— THE TRUE COCKATOOS. 



Plectdlophus, Vgrs. 



Distinguisliing Maries. 



The True Cockatoos are distinguished as follows : The beak 

 strong, slightly arched ; the upper mandible deeply hollowed 

 out, and the point strongly bent inwards — a broad, somewhat 

 round ridge, and occasionally faint longitudinal furrows ; the 

 lower beak is mostly somewhat deeper, with an upward curved 

 socket edge, the sharp edges straight, and at the end sharply 

 bent upwards ; the socket has a circular indentation ; the 

 nostrils are small, round, open in the narrow cere, often set 

 with short feathers ; the tongue is thick, fleshy, with a broad, 

 blunt, rounded end ; the eyes prominent, very round, and 

 expressive ; bare circle round the eye white ; lores feathered ; 

 the wings are long and pointed ; the tail, medium length, 

 broad, straight, or slightly rounded towards the outside, and 

 sometimes towards the inside. The plumage is as soft as silk, 

 each feather having a rounded tip, in rare cases with powdery 

 down ; a crest formed by the long feathers of the forehead 

 and top of the head, variously shaped, and when the bird is 

 roused by excitement capable of being erected or spread out 

 like a fan ; feet strong and large, with powerful hook-shaped 

 claws. The prevailing tone is white, with variegated markings ; 

 the figure compact, about the size of a jackdaw or crow. 



Two of the species are distinguished by their very long upper 

 beak, and are called Long-billed or Nasecus Cockatoos \_Licmetis, 

 Wgl.]. This species is found in Indo-Australia. 



The birds are imported in numbers alive, and being more or 

 less valued as cage birds, they form an important article of 

 commerce. It has not yet been determined whether they 

 possess more talent than other parrots for speech. Their 

 natural voice is, however, shrill and piercing. 



