O BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 394. CACATUA ROSEICAPILLA. 



Rose-breasted Cockatoo. 



Cacatua roseicapiUa,Yiei\\. Nouv. Diet. d^Hist. Nat., torn. xvii. p. 12. 



eos, Less. Man. d'Orn., torn. ii. p. 143. 



rosea, Vieill. Gal. des Ois., torn. ii. p. 5. pi. 25. 



Psittacus eos, Kubl. Nova Acta, torn. x. p. 88. 



Rose-coloured Cockatoo, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 207. 



PlyctoJophus eos, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 269. 



Kakadoe rosea, Bourj. de St.-Hil. Perr., tab. 74. 



Eolophus roseus, Bonap. Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 1854, p. 155. 



roseicapillus, Bonap. Compt. Rend, de PAcad. Sci., 1857, p. 



The Rose Cockatoo, Sturt^s Travels in Australia, vol. ii. pi. in p. 79. 



Cacatua eos, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. v. pi. 4. 



This beautiful Cockatoo is abundantly dispersed over a 

 great part of the interior of Australia ; both Oxley and Sturt 

 speak of it as inhabiting the country to the north-west of the 

 Blue Mountains ; in fact, few travellers have visited the 

 interior without having had their attention attracted by its 

 appearance; and I myself saw it in great numbers on the 

 plains bordering the river Namoi, particularly under the 

 Nundewar range of Sir Thomas Mitchell; I possess speci- 

 mens also from the north coast, procured by the officers of 

 the ' Beagle.' 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 ; the rosy colour of the breast 

 and the grey colouring of the back are darker than in the 

 specimens I killed on the Namoi. The late Mr. Elsey informed 

 me that " The country round the Gulf seems to be the favomite 

 resort of this species ; it there feeds on the broad open 

 plains in flocks of from fifty to two hundred. Nothing can 

 exceed the beauty of then appearance as they wheel about 

 over these plains in the light of an early sun." 



