THE COCKATOOS 



1869 



feathers of the chest. Of this group the Banksian cockatoo (Calyptorhynckus 

 banksi}, represented in the upper portion of our plate, may be taken as a well- 

 known example. In all these birds the tail feathers are rather long, with the 

 middle ones shorter than those on the sides, and they are crossed by a light-colored 

 transverse band. The beak is characterized by its shortness and depth, and its 

 highly-curved profile. The whole seven species are confined to Australia. The 

 Banksian cockatoo belongs to a group of four species in which there is no light- 

 colored patch on the ear coverts, while in the adult males the band on the tail 

 is red, although more or less tinged with yellow in the young, and perhaps in 

 females of all ages. On the other hand, in the second group, of which the funereal 

 cockatoo (C. funereus} is a well- 

 known representative, the ear coverts 

 are marked by a yellow or white 

 patch, while the tail band is of one 

 of these two tints at all ages. The 

 Banksian cockatoo, which measures 

 twenty-four inches in total length, 

 has the general color of a greenish 

 black, with a vermilion tail band. 

 It is confined to Eastern Australia. 

 Writing of a South-Australian spe- 

 cies (C. xanthonotus) belonging to 

 the group with a yellow tail band, 

 the "Old Bushman" observes that 

 it ' ' was common in our forests from 

 about December, when the old and 

 young birds came down from their 

 breeding places, and remained with 

 us during the winter. They did not 

 breed in our neighborhood [near 

 Port Phillip] ; but I think they went 

 to nest very early, for I once shot a 

 female in May with a large egg in 

 her. They principally frequent the 



honeysuckles, but are often in the large gums. The old birds are very shy, and 

 have a loud, hoarse call note, or cackle. When they first come, they are in large 

 flocks, and they then always frequented the large honeysuckles, over the tops of 

 which they would fly, or rather float through the air, with a wavering kind of 

 flight, toying and playing with each other, after the manner of the rook at home. 

 As the winter advanced, they appeared to separate, and, although you hardly ever 

 see a single bird, they disperse themselves much more generally over the forests. 

 Their principal food appeared to be large seeds and grubs, and they score the young 

 honeysuckles round with their powerful beaks in search for these latter as if cut 

 with a knife. The young birds are excellent eating. ' ' Basing his experience on 

 another species, Dr. Guillemard also vouches for the excellent quality of cockatoo pie. 



HEAD OF DUCORPS' COCKATOO. 

 (From Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871.) 



