160 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



that the purely black birds, with bright red cheeks, shorter 

 crest, and shorter beak, are the old males ; and the lighter 

 birds, with long beaks, which had remained unchanged after 

 being in captivity for two years, are the hens. Dr. Platen 

 imported three splendid specimens of this species, which were 

 very tame, and spoke some words. 



To the amateur this bird is of little importance, as it can onl}' 

 be regarded as a curiosity for zoological collections, or for 

 fanciers. 



CHAP. LIX.— THE CALLIPSITTACUS, OR COOKATIEL, 



Callipsittacus, Lss. 



Distingu ishing Marks. 



This name has been given to a genus of the cockatoo family 

 which, like the Macaw Cockatoos, shows a marked distinction 

 from the rest of the parrots. Corresponding with its German 

 name, this parrot has a long graduated tail, from which the two 

 central feathers extend pointedly to some distance. Could, 

 Schlegel, and Finsch, in spite of this peculiarity, include it 

 amongst the cockatoos, and I also follow this classification, 

 although the species has of late been sub-divided and reckoned 

 amongst the Flat-tailed Parrakeets. The distinguishing marks 

 are as follows : The beak is similar to that of the real cockatoos, 

 only weaker, the ridge more compact and angular, the point 

 not so protracted; the nostrils round, open, with edges turning 

 upwards, in the well-defined cere ; the tongue short, thick, 

 rounded at the point, with a spoonlike cavity ; the eyes propor- 

 tionately small and round, and a featherless circle round the 

 eye ; the lores feathered ; the wings unusually long and 

 pointed ; the tail as described above ; the feet of moderate 

 size ; the claws rather weak, but sharp ; the plumage soft ; the 

 crest feathers long, narrow, of a fibrous nature, the longest 

 rather turned upwards ; the chin feathers below the under 

 beak are long and broad. Other marks may be found in 

 the description of the species. 



