THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 239 
the labellum, which is moved aside, and whilst the insect sipped the 
nectar, the pollen mass was received by the expectant stigma. 
Then again mounting the spike, as the long and flexible proboscis 
was thrust into the scarcely opened flower, it could not fail to touch 
the sensitive rostellum, and bear away the disk and its pollinia. 
The experiment is easily tried, and you will find that once 
fertilized, the stigma becomes dry, and will receive no more pollen. 
There is no waste in any of the works of God. 
For more minute details of rostellum and disk, we must refer 
to Darwin’s work, as the length of this paper is limited; but I 
wish to observe that a section of the ovary is well worth looking at, 
also the seeds, like pretty netted purses, which contain the germ of 
the future plant (Fig. 8). A portion of the cuticle, also, from any 
part of the stem or flower, will show jointed and glandular hairs, 
giving a crystallized appearance to the surface of these parts. 
Fig. 7 is a mature ovary, with the withered sepals on its apex 
and the bract at its base. 
THE ROSE-BREASTED COCKATOO. 
BY THE PRISONER’S FRIEND. 
4) passing through London lately, I was surprised to 
observe on a barrow in the public street a number of 
birds for sale, comprising species that I had always 
considered scarce and valuable. One of these was the 
_ rose-breasted cockatoo, which in this genus bears the 
specific name of Roseo-capillus, the rosy feathers of the breast being 
as fine as hairs, hence the designation. It is an exquisitely beauti- 
ful bird, with very short beak, a very close and scarcely conspicuous 
crest, which it raises when pleased or surprised, the prevailing colours 
of the plumage being light ashy grey and warm purplish rose. The 
birds I saw were offered at ten shillings each, and of course their 
beauty would sell them. It may be that some of your readers 
would like to know something about this pretty creature as a 
parlour pet. 
The rose-breasted cockatoo is a ground bird,and when allowed full 
liberty will but seldom use its wings. It is well, therefore, to begin 
training it early to go out of its eage about the room, and to return 
to it of its own free will. It can be easily caught on the ground 
by means of a small cloth put over its shoulders, until it learns to 
go to its cage for food, and it very soon becomes so tame and 
familiar, that it will sit on the shoulder of its mistress, and be as 
well-behaved as any feathered pet that ever was known. 
In all its ways it is extremely gentle; it is, in fact, the most 
gentle as well as most beautiful of the parrot tribe. It becomes so 
affectionate, and is so partial to human society, that it should be taken 
much notice of, and frequently be played with, or it is liable to mope 
and lose colour. Whatever of an untoward nature happeus to this 
pretty creature at once affects its colour; kence, when the plumage is 
August, 
