THE COCKATOOS. 155 



most careful not to hurt. It is, undoubtedly, an affectionate 

 and pleasing companion in a room, and the more it advances in 

 taming and training the less frequently is its annoying cry 

 heard. Its capability does not extend beyond one or two 

 sentences or half-a-dozen words. 



CHAP. LV. — THE SLENDER-BILLED OR NASECUS 

 COCKATOO. 



Psittacus nasiea, Tmm. 



Slender-hithd Cockatoo, the Naseciis CocJcatoo, tJie Long-hilled 

 White CocJcatoo (Ger., Nasenhalcadu, Kleiner Nasenhakadu, 

 Langschnciheliger Kakatu ; Fr., Cacatois nasiqiie, Nasiterne ; 

 Dut., Neus Kakketoe) — Description. 



The Nasecus Cockatoo was described and drawn by Temminck 

 in 1819. It certainly presents an extraordinary appearance, on 

 account of its long projecting upper mandible, and the name 

 which has been given it for this reason is really in some degree 

 apt. The band on the forehead, the lores and the stripe 

 round the eye are scarlet ; a small rounded white crest, the 

 feathers at the base having rosy down ; a yellow spot behind 

 the eye ; all the rest of the body is white ; on the head and 

 throat the feathers also have rose-coloured down ; the inner 

 side of the flight feathers is whitish-yellow, on the reverse side 

 light-yellow ; the tail is of a decided light-yellow on the inner 

 webs and reverse side ; the spot on the upper part of the breast, 

 and all the feathers at the base, are a dark rose-colour ; the 

 thigh is of pale rosy-red ; the beak bluish-white, with a long 

 projecting sharp point ; the cere and nostrils are covered with 

 little rose-coloured feathers ; the eyes are black, dark, or light- 

 brown, a broad bluish-white circle round the eye ; the feet 

 bluish-grey, with black scales and claws. In size fully as large 

 as a crow (length, 17|in. ; wings, 10 Jin. to 10|in. ; tail, 4iin. 

 to 5in.). 



It is a native of South Australia. It is said to subsist chiefly 

 upon orchids, tubers, and roots, which it digs out of the ground 

 by means of its curious beak ; otherwise its habits do not differ 

 from those of the preceding species. In its movements, flight. 



