THE COCKATOO AND TWENTY-EIGHT. 141 



the most graceful and easy manner. I also saw 

 several collections of birds : the cockatoo and wlnst- 

 liiig twenty-eight being the most noteworthy. The 

 cockatoo varies from the East India variety in the 

 color of its crest, which is white ; and, after some tui- 

 tion, they talk very fluently, as I was assured by one 

 who, with great facility asked what my name was, 

 'Not seeing the bird at the time, I turned round to my 

 companion to answer his inquiry, as I thought, when 

 a repetition of the question from a difl:erent direction 

 soon satisfied me as to its author. On my hesitating 

 to answer, the bird curtly informed me that he would 

 tell his mistress. As I did not wish to incur my fair 

 hostess' displeasure, she having furnished me with a 

 most excellent repast, I hastened to satisfy him. 



The twenty-eight is a beautiful bird, resembling 

 the parrot. What it derives its name from I cannot 

 imagine, as there is, whether in a wild or domestic 

 state, nothing in its note that to my ear resembles 

 the sound of the words "twenty-eight." The prevail- 

 ing color of its plumage is green, elegantly variegated 

 about the head and tail with yellow, red, and black 

 feathers. These birds are easily taught to whistle a 

 tune. Their natural note is pleasing, and somewhat 

 resembling that of the cuckoo. They can be taught 

 also to talk, and several in our possession far exceeded 

 in this respect any parrot I ever saw. When taught 

 they are highly valued by the settlers, and almost 

 every family has one or more of them. They exist 

 in great numbers in the bush of the vicinity, and are 

 preferable to the cockatoo, because they are free from 

 his tricks — he being as mischievous as a monkey, 

 when allowed to traverse the house. 



