THE WHITE COCKATOO. 159 



down from their breeding-places, and remained with us 

 during the winter. They did not breed in our neigh- 

 bourhood, 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. The young binds are 

 excellent eating. Their principal food appeared to be 

 large seeds and grubs, and they score the young honey- 

 suckles round with their powerful beaks in search for 

 these latter as if cut with a knife. 



There is another variety of this bird, the tail-feather 

 spotted with red. I only knew of two specimens being 

 killed in our district, but I believe it is not uncommon 

 near the Head. 



I believe there is a third variety, the tail barred with 

 red, which is very rare. This I -never saw. 



The White Cockatoo is very common in many parts, 

 where they congregate in immense flocks ; and I have 

 seen a large patch of meadow ground covered with them 

 like a sheet of snow. They were comparatively rare ia 



