156 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



and gait it appears, however, more rapid and graceful, and is 

 said to be rather a ground than a tree bird. Its nest is built 

 in the hollows of gum-trees, and it is said to lay two eggs. 

 Large swarms of them roost at night in the tall forest trees. 

 They cause great damage to the crops ; they are on this account 

 greatly pursued, and, like their congeners, have almost every- 

 where been driven back into the bush. Many young ones are 

 stolen from the nest, and brought up by hand ; but more 

 frequently, the old ones are caught in flocks by means of nets. 



In the cage it usually appears sulky and ill-tempered, and 

 at the same time is one of the worst of screechers. The majority 

 learn only to say a few words, but some are said to be extraor- 

 dinarily gifted in speech. A Nasecus Cockatoo belonging to Mr. 

 Max Strahl became exceedingly tame, shook hands, and kissed, 

 and when it was allowed to come out of the cage its joy and 

 caresses knew no bounds. It made funny little leaps on the 

 ground with its outspread fan-shaped tail, at the same time 

 uttering peculiar notes. Mr. Miiller-Kiichler had a couple so 

 tame that they accompanied him for long walks in the open air, 

 flying from tree to tree, but would come at a call, and caress 

 and kiss him. In their picturesque flight they often soared 

 high into the air, and when pursued by a bird of prey the male 

 mounted, screeching, to such a height that it was lost to sight, 

 and thus escaped its pursuer. Taken when they are old, they are 

 stupid, and very difficult to tame, very excitable, but not really 

 vicious. The loird is very common in the trade. 



CHAP. LVL— THE BAEE-EYED COCKATOO. 



Peittacus gymndpis, Scl. 



Bare-eyed Cockatoo (Ger., Nacldaugen-Kakadu. ; Fr., Cacatois a 

 yeux nus ; Dut., Naaktoog Kal'ketoe) — Distinguishing Marks 

 — Rarity. 



According to the description of Mr. Blaauw, the Bare-eyed 

 Cockatoo is coloured as follows : The forehead is a pale rose 

 colour ; the straight, pointed crest is white, but reddish-yellow 

 at the base ; the lores are almost blood-red ; the cheeks are a 

 dirty yellow ; all the rest of the plumage white, having rose- 



