All rights reserved. April, 1917, 



BIRD NOTES: 



THE 



JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB 



Successful Breeding of Sulphur-crested Cochatoos. 



By H. Whitley. 



The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo {Cacatiia (ralerila) 

 has bcei! known to aviculture for \cry many years, yet, 

 apparently my success with this species, in a state of controlled 

 liberty, is an isolated one, and, at the Editor's request I am 

 penning these notes. 



Description of this well known bird is uncalled for, 

 and their entertaining habits in captivity are equally well 

 known. 



1 purchased my pair of birds in June, 191 i, and I 

 put them down as being not more than three years old at that 

 time. For tlie lirst two years or so they were kept on 

 sland^ ir. tlx house, afterwards, with the idea of letting them 

 loose alternately, they were transferred to swinging perches 

 outside uijder a glass verandah. It was here I found out how 

 exceptionally hardy they were, as they showed no signs of 

 discomfort right througli the winter, though apart from the 

 cold the position was somewhat draughty. 



I think one of the primary reasons for putting them 

 where, one at least, could be at liberty, was an accident to 

 the hen bird, whereby she broke her leg in two places. The 

 cock 'v.'i; ail adept at breaking his chain, and one day 

 having done this he flew over to the hen's stand — this oc- 

 curred whilst they were indoors — and the two chains becoming 

 entwined, the hen's chain was so shortened that, on her 

 trymg to go under the perch and come up on the other side, 

 she ' could not do so, and was left suspended in the air; 

 when found, her thigh and shank were bo^h broken, but 1 



