155 



CHAPTER L. 



GOFFIN S COCKATOO. 



I HAVE already said so much about this bird in my ''Am- 

 ateur's Aviary", that very little now remains to be added. 

 His scientific name is Psittacus or Cacatua Goffini, in German 

 he is called der Goffin''s Kaladu, and in French, le petit 

 Cacatois a liuppe rougedtre. He is a native of the Solomon 

 Islands; the general colour of his plumage, which secretes 

 a quantity of pearly white powder not unlike glove chalk, 

 is white; the under wing feathers are pale primrose yellow, 

 and so are the under tail coverts, but the crest feathers, which 

 are broad and white, are reddish salmon colour at the base, 

 with the exception of the largest in front, which are white 

 throughout. 



Goffin's Cockatoo is about the same size as the common 

 Grey Parrot, his beak is greyish white, and his feet and legs 

 a very pale slate colour: the iris of the eye is black in the 

 male, and brown in the female, which may thus be distinguished 

 at a glance from her partner: difference of size exists among 

 these birds, but indicates age, not sex; they grow slowly, 

 and live for a great many years: mine is now fifteen years 

 in England, and shows not the least sign of decrepitude as 

 yet. It is a very intelligent bird, a good talker, and could, 

 I believe, be easily bred, if a young healthy 'pair could be 

 obtained. Being scarce it commands a high price in the bird 

 market; as much as £5 or £6 being asked for an adult 

 specimen. 



The ordinary diet of Goffin's Cockatoo should be canary 

 and hemp seed, but he may also be given boiled potato, rice 

 cooked, bread, and a little ^^^, or a well-picked chicken bone 



