148 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



account of tlie thick plumage, which is often ruffled (length 

 lo|in. to 17^in. ; wings, llfin. to lo|in. : tail, G|in. to 7in.). 

 It has the peculiarity of being able to ruffle not only the tuft, 

 but also the long chin feathers. 



It is indigenous to South and West Australia. On account of 

 the pursuit it is subjected to when in freedom, this cockatoo, 

 like its fellows, has become exceedingly shy and cautious. It is 

 frequently taken from the nest and reared by hand. 



With good treatment it reaches a great age. I have known 

 one which was nearly one hundred years old. In general it is 

 considered affectionate, capable, and at the same time talented 

 in speaking. Mr. Fiedler says it is gentler, and does not cry so 

 shrilly, as the others ; it will follow its master like his shadow, 

 and deserves to be valued for its pretty ways as well as for its 

 beauty. Dr. Lazarus, on the contrary, found from experience 

 that a cockatoo of this species screamed worse than any other, for 

 its cries could be heard many hundred yards away. At such 

 times — that is to say, when it hung in the open air, in the ring 

 of a parrot stand, with erect flaming crest, bristling peach- 

 coloured feathers on the chin, throat, and neck, and with 

 outspread wings and tail — it was indeed a beautiful sight, but 

 its ear-piercing shrieks were unbearable. Another cried less 

 loudly and continuously, but at several intervals in the day so 

 monotonously, that it was on that account just as wearisome. 

 '•' The first could easily bite through the strongest chains, and 

 its cries became at last so annoying that the neighbours seriously 

 complained, and I was obliged to part with it. But I shall 

 always regret that it was not possible for me to keep such an 

 affectionate and beautiful bird. Of the three Eed-crested 

 Cockatoos which I have possessed, the last was easily taught to 

 imitate whistling, for it soon learnt to repeat signals and 

 melodies with a soft, flute-like voice. Whenever a barrel organ 

 was heard in the forecourt, it tried to follow separate airs, and if 

 it did not succeed easily in this, yet it always at once caught the 

 time and tune. As to speaking, however, it could only say two 

 phrases." Mr. G. Hoffmann received a young cockatoo of this 

 species which developed a high talent for speech. It learned to 

 repeat several sentences well, and with great expression. At 

 the same time it never screamed unpleasantly, but uttered a not 

 unpleasant murmur. The very varied behaviour of the different 

 specimens of this species depends, as may easily be understood, 

 upon whether they have been taken from the nest and reared by 



