CACATUA. 89 



aiul all Ijip. )i iiih'r snrfac.i' ru-h rosyrn/ : loiivr Jlniik.i ntul iiikIit hul-cnn'rl^ (irii/ : bill (jreyish-irlnlr^ 

 IKiJif at llif tiji : niikfil skm animul tlie pijo dull r>-d ; leytaud frcf dark Dnidij-iii-'nj : iris dull uraii.gn- 

 •rfd. Total leitijlh ill ihf jli'sli llf. iiichei:, ii'iiii) 10 .\ tail J-/)', //(// 7, larsiia (l-SS. 



AruLT KKMALK. — Siiniliir iu, plirmiige til ihr: male. 



Distribnfinii — Xorth-western Australia, Northern Territory of South Australia, Oueensland, 

 New Soutli Wales, South Austraha, Webtern Australia. 



glNp we except the south-western and north-eastern portions of the continent, the rani^e of the 

 Jl Rose-breasted Cockatoo, or, as it is usually called, the " (jalah," extends over most parts 

 of the inland districts of Australia. In Eastern Australia it is essentially a bird of the inland 

 plains, with belts of timber thereon and trees frini,'inf; the river banks, and never so far as my 

 experience goes does it occur near the coast. Like Gould I met with this species on the 

 Namoi River, in Northern New South Wales, and later on about eighty miles to the north, 

 on the Mehi River, where specimens weie obtained; and again in considerable numbers on the 

 Castlereagh I'iiver, near Coonamble, in Western New South Wales. Gould remarks : — "A 

 difference, however, which may hereafter prove to be specific, exists between the birds from New 

 South Wales and those of the north coast. Those from the latter locality are the largest in size, 

 and have the bare skin round the eye more extended ; and the rosy colour of the breast and the 

 grey colouring of the back are darlcer than in the specimens I killed on the Namoi." I hnd 

 just the reverse in the specimens m the Australian Museum Collection, as all the deepest rosy- 

 red birds were obtained by the late Mr. K. H. Bennett, in South-western New South Wales. 

 There is, however, as Gould points out, a variation in the depths of colour of the under parts, as 

 there is also in size, e\'en when procured in the same locality. One of the smallest and richest 

 coloured birds in the Australian Museum is an adult female, obtained by Mr. W. .\dams, who 

 accompanied the late Mr. K. H. Hennett, at Moolah, Western New South Wales. The wing 

 measurement of adult males varies from yS to io"75 inches. Specimens from Derby, North- 

 western .Australia, ha\"e that faded and washed-out appearance cominon to many species 

 procured in torrid districts. C)f abnormally plumaged individuals is an adult specimen presented 

 by Mr. J. L. (J'L)onalioo, of Broken Hill, South-western New South Wales, which has the back, 

 wings, tail, and under-tail coverts pure white, the head rosy-white, the hind-neck and all the 

 under surface rich rosy-red. There is a variation in the colour of the iris in the adults. I have 

 examined cages of these birds containing upwards oi a hundred and fifty or more, and have 

 noted most had the iris orange-red, others, apparently adult, with it black, and in one or two 

 instances hazel ; it is not a sexual distinction. Young birds have the iris black. 



.\s a rule the Rose-breasted Cockatoo may usually be seen feeding on the ground, the 

 stomachs of those examined containing various seeds of herbaceous plants and portions of small 

 bulbous-rooted plants. Near Coonamble these birds were very destructive in the grain fields, 

 when the wheat was cut and set up in sheaves, as also were Calopsittacm iiovic-liollandhi; and 

 Bavnavdius haniardi. 



When procured from the nesting-place young birds soon learn to become proficient talkers. 

 Two of these birds in particular that I know of seemed to possess almost human intelligence in 

 their apt replies to questions, including even the inflections of voice, and were remarkable also 

 for their versatility. Although one may find now and again an extraordmary good talker in a 

 Rose-breasted Cockatoo, as a rule I regard Licuuiis unsu'ii and Ciicaina saif^uiitca as having the 

 most distinct and human-like enunciations. As a cage bird the former is the lowest priced among 

 the Cockatoos, probably on account of their being so common and easily procured. At Junee 

 Junction Railway Station, in Southern New South Wales, I saw hundreds of young birds 

 that had been recently taken from the nesting-place, packed one on the other like fruit in open 

 cases, and have seen them so received in the bird-dealers' shops in Sydney. 



23 



