54 



S Correspondence. 



THK rosk-brp:astkd cockatoo. 



Sir, — One often sees, and maybe hears, the cry '• What 

 parrot shall I keep ? It must not be expensive, and it must be 

 one which will become tame and affectionate." I have found 

 the Rosy-breasted Cockatoo to meet all these requirements, 

 and it is a binl that can be trained to do almost anything. 



:\Ir. C. W. Gedney, in '"Foreign Cage Birds," says "They 

 are extremely hardy, and admirably adapted either as cage 

 or aviary pet.s, for they are the most amiable of the Cockatoo 

 family, and may safely be kept with any of the larger parra- 

 keets, whilst their liandsome plumage makes them attractive 

 objects, either in a collection or in a cage." 



The one I have is most affectionate. When it sees me, up 

 will go its crest feathers and it will utter short cries of delight; 

 should I pretend not to notice it, then it will try other means 

 of persuasion, such as dancing, all the time making a peculiar 

 l^rating noise with its beak ; should this not be enough to 

 attract me, then to the floor of its cage it will go, and with its 

 grey- and rose-coloured wings pointed above it, will utter 

 louder cries until I notice it. It will fly on to my arm from 

 any part of the room, and will do the same in the open. Last 

 summer, for a short time each da}*, I gave it its liberty, when it 

 would fly from tree to tree but would never go far away. 

 Could there be a nicer bird ? I used to keep it in an unheated 

 conservatory where it seemed to sufi^er from cold — so now it is 

 })laced in a heated aviary. It is not a screamer, although in 

 almost every book the Rosy Cockatoo is described as such : no 

 doubt the training has something to do with it. It would be 

 interesting to hear if other members have found this species a 

 screamer or otherwise. 



I\Ir. Gedney gives a full account of how he i)red these 

 most charming birds. 



C. C.\STI,K vSl.OANK. 



