1 872 THE PARROT TRIBE 



confined to the islands of Ceram and Amboyna. The remaining species are smaller, 

 and have the cere feathered. Most of them have the under surface of the body 

 white, but the red-breasted cockatoo (C. roseicapilla) differs from all the other 

 members of the genus in having the whole of the under surface of the body of a bril- 

 liant full rose color, and the upper parts gray, the crown of the head being pale rosy 

 white. It is widely distributed in Australia, and measures fourteen inches in total 

 length. The blood-stained cockatoo (C. sanguined) is from North Australia. 



All the cockatoos of this group are gregarious, some of the species, 

 like the greater sulphur-crest, associating in immense flocks, and 

 those who have seen these birds soaring over the trees of an Australian forest bear 

 testimony to the beauty of the spectacle. At times they will ascend in the sky, 

 during the full blaze of a tropical noon, far above the range of the unaided human 

 vision, while at others they may be seen scattered so thickly over a field as to give 

 almost the appearance of a coating of snow. Some years ago it was attempted to 

 naturalize these birds in the woods of Norfolk, but the attempt was to a great 

 extent rendered abortive through their wandering habits, whereby many fell victims 

 to the guns of the idlers of the neighborhood. When flying at such a height in the 

 air as to be invisible to the naked eye, the whereabouts of the flock of great white 

 cockatoos is often revealed on a calm day by the sound of the characteristic cry 

 from which these birds derive their name. This repetition of the syllables cockatoo- 

 cockatoo is the ordinary cry of that species, but the harsh, screaming yell, denoting 

 anger or surprise, is only too well known to all who have kept these birds as pets. 

 Their food consists mainly of seeds, but it is probable that in the wild state larvae 

 of insects form a considerable portion of the diet of many of the species, as in cap- 

 tivity they will readily eat both gnats and flesh. L,ike most of the parrot tribe, 

 cockatoos do little or nothing in the way of nest-making, generally laying their 

 eggs on the bare wood in some hollow tree. The eggs vary from three to four in 

 number, and usually two broods are reared in a year. In those species which have 

 been bred in Europe, the season extends from May till September. Their elegant 

 plumage, graceful movements, and the readiness with which they are tamed, render 

 cockatoos great favorites as domestic pets, although their discordant cries worse in 

 some species than others are a most serious drawback. Writing of the great 

 white cockatoo, Mr. W. T. Greene observes that "occasionally one of these birds 

 will learn to pronounce a few words with tolerable distinctness, but their forte lies 

 in the imitation of the barking of dogs, the crowing of cocks, the gabbling 

 of turkeys, and the cackling of ducks, hens, and geese, and more particularly in the 

 rendering, with much fidelity but in an exaggerated key, the outcries of a domestic 

 fowl that has just produced an egg. They may be readily taught to throw up their 

 wings, dance on their perch, hold out their foot to shake hands, and bow their heads 

 in salutation of a visitor. ' ' Not unfrequently these birds can be tamed sufficiently 

 to admit their being allowed to wander at large, and the writer is acquainted with 

 an individual of one of the Australian species which is at times let loose in the gar- 

 den of its owner. Here the bird will generally remain within accessible distance, 

 although it will occasionally fly to the tops of some tall trees. From such an ele- 

 vated perch "cockie" will generally descend at the call of its mistress, but occa- 



