THE COCKATOOS. 149 



hand, or caught when they are already old, and then perhaps 

 ill-treated. In the latter case it will display the more unpleasant 

 qualities in a marked manner, and in the former the more 

 agreeable ones. In the latter case, too, it is more obstinate and 

 untractable than almost any other parrot. 



Most birds of this species are already very tame when they come 

 into the market. Dr. Platen brought over twenty head with 

 him ; but in general the Eed-crested Cockatoos are not frequently 

 imported. 



CHAP. LI.— LEADBEATEE'S COCKATOO. 



Psittacru Leadbeateri, Vgrs. 



Leadheater s Cockatoo (Ger., Leadheaters Kakadu, Leadheater s 

 Kakatu, Inkakakadu ; Fr., Cacatois de Leadheater, Cacatois 

 a Iiuppe tricolor e ; Dut., Driekleiir Kakketoe of Leadheater s 

 Kakketoe) — Distinguishing Marks — Domestic Character. 



This cockatoo, which is in truth the most beautiful of all, was 

 first described by Vigors in 1831. It is marked as follows: A 

 narrow band of rose-colour on the forehead ; the feathers on the 

 forehead and front of the head white, with a light rose- 

 colour at the base ; the crest is formed by sixteen pointed 

 feathers bent towards the front, which are vermilion at the 

 base, then a broad stripe of yellow, again red, and then white at 

 the end, so that the folded crest appears white, and only when 

 the crest is erected in excitement can the splendour of the three 

 colours be seen ; the back and sides of the head, the throat, 

 lower part of the back, and all the under parts of the body, light 

 rose-colour ; the upper part of the back and the wings are 

 white ; the inner web of the flights and all underneath are 

 a dark rose-colour ; the tail is white above, and underneath 

 at the base, rose-colour ; the beak is a yellowish-grey white ; 

 the cere and nostrils are hidden by little rose-coloured feathers ; 

 the eyes are black, deep-brown, or reddish-brown ; the eye cere 

 is yellowish-white ; the feet bluish-grey, with black scales and 

 claws. It is about the size of a crow (length, 12^in. to IS^in. ; 

 wings, lOin. to lOfin. ; tail, 5^in. to 6in.). The female is said by 

 Gould to have a shorter crest, a narrower yellow band, and to 

 be whiter underneath, with a tinge of rose-colour. 



