THE COCKATOOS. 157 



coloured down on the feathers of the head and breast ; the 

 quills and tail are sulphur-yellow underneath ; the beak is horn- 

 white (not protracted like that of the Nasecus Cockatoos) ; the 

 eyes dark-brown ; a bare circle of blackish-blue is round the 

 eye (above the eye the feathers are movable like eyebrows, so 

 that they sometimes come down to the eyes and only leave 

 visible the bare skin under the eye). This gives the cockatoo 

 an exceedingly good-humoured expression. Size : about the 

 same as the Nasecus Cockatoo ; but in shape it resembles the 

 Digging Cockatoo. 



It is indigenous to South Australia. It was first made known 

 in the year 1871, by Dr. Sclater, and described from a specimen 

 in the Zoological Gardens, in London. 



''When I received the Bare-eyed Cockatoo," writes Mr. 

 Blaauw, " it was very shy, and would allow no one to approach 

 it ; but it soon evinced curiosity when I busied myself with the 

 other cockatoos. Then it began to touch my finger with its 

 beak when I held it out to it. In an exceedingly short time it 

 became tame, came flying on to my shoulder when I called it, 

 and let me caress it. It also became accustomed to flying about 

 in the open air, so that by soaring aloft it could always follow me ; 

 if it lost sight of me it searched about with complaining cries, 

 and gave loud expression to its delight, and revelled in caresses 

 when it would find me again. Its flight was easy and rapid, in 

 picturesque movements, and with upright crest ; it liked to 

 tumble about in a high wind, but, on the other hand, disliked 

 rain. It moves gracefully on the ground, running or jumping, 

 and sometimes, with erected crest, it indulges in a comical 

 little dance. Its natural voice is heard in protracted owl-like 

 cries, which, however, it only utters in the evening and during 

 flight. I consider this species one of the most affectionate and 

 gifted of all the cockatoos." 



This description of a bird which is still rare appears to me 

 so interesting that I have given it at full length, the more so 

 that the Bare-eyed Cockatoo, of which there are only two 

 specimens in the London Zoological Gardens, has of late been 

 imported occasionally. Thus, Charles Jamrach offered one for 

 sale in 1877, three in 1881, and J. Abrahams one in 1881. 



