The Cockatcel. 113 



after brood of young ones without taking a rest, such as the 

 changes of the seasons would compel them to observe in their 

 native wilds. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



THE COCKATEEL. 



THE most sober-suited of all the Parrot family, except 

 the black Parrots, Psittacus vaza and Psittacus niger, the 

 Cockateel is nevertheless a very attractive bird: white and a 

 pale lavender grey are the prevailing tints of its plumage, 

 the face being relieved by a patch of primrose yellow, in 

 the centre of which is a smaller spot of a brick-red colour; 

 the head is ornamented with a crest of fine i^ointed yellowish 

 feathers, which the bird has not the power of erecting or 

 depressing at will, differing thus from the true Cockatoos; so 

 that in reality it is a crested Parrakeet, and not a ''little 

 Cockatoo." The wing coverts are white, and the under surface 

 of the tail jet-black. 



The crest of the female is grey, and she has no yellow on 

 her face; her outer tail feathers are broadly, and the others 

 finely, spotted with yellow on their anterior aspect; underneath 

 they are crossed by numerous yellow bars, a disposition of 

 colours that extends to the middle of the abdomen. 



The Cockateel measures about twelve inches in length, five 

 of which belong to the tail. It is a very docile bird, and 

 breeds freely in captivity, choosing, according to my experience 

 of this species, the highest possible nesting-place it can find; 

 nor have I ever known it to build upon the ground, which 

 a recent writer has asserted to be its usual habit. The eggs 

 are about the size of those of the Collared or Laughing 

 Dove, and are quite white; they are frequently seven or ei^-ht 

 in number, but more often from three to five. When located 



