142 



Crratfurr? of Datura! $H 



Before we proceed to describe some of the 

 species, we beg to copy from the pages of 

 Capt. Grey (Travels in Australia} a most 

 interesting description of " Cockatoo kill- 

 ing." " Perhaps as fine a sight as can be 

 seen in the whole circle of native sports is 

 the killing Cockatoos with the kiley, or 

 boomerang. A native perceives a large 

 flight of Cockatoos in a forest which encircles 

 a lagoon ; the expanse of water aifords an 

 open clear space above it, unencumbered 

 with trees, but which raise their gigantic 

 forms all around, more vigorous in their 

 growth from the damp soil in which they 

 flourish : and in their leafy summits sit a 

 countless number of Cockatoos, screaming 

 and flying from tree to tree, as they make 

 their arrangements for a night's sound 

 sleep. The native throws aside his cloak, 

 so that he may not even have this slight 

 covering to impede his motions, draws his 

 kiley from his belt, and, with a noiseless, 

 elastic step, approaches the lagoon, creeping 

 from tree to tree, from bush to bush, and 

 disturbing the birds as little as possible ; 

 their sentinels, however, take the alarm, 

 the Cockatoos farthest from the water fly to 

 the trees near its edge, and thus they keep 

 concentrating their forces as the native ad- 

 vances ; they are aware that danger is at 

 hand, but are ignorant of its nature. At 

 length the pursuer almost reaches the edge 

 of the water, and the scared Cockatoos, with 

 wild cries, spring into the air ; at the same 

 instant the native raises his right hand Mgh 

 over his shoulder, and, bounding forward 

 with his utmost speed for a few paces, to 

 give impetus to his blow, the kiley quits his 

 hand as if it would strike the water, but when 

 it has almost touched the unruffled surface 

 of the lake, it spins upwards with inconceiv- 

 able velocity, and with the strangest con- 

 tortions. In vain the terrified Cockatoos 

 strive to avoid it : it sweeps wildy and 

 uncertainly through the air, and so eccentric 

 are its motions, that it requires but a slight 

 stretch of the imagination to fancy it en- 

 dowed with life, and with fcll swoops is in 

 rapid pursuit of the devoted birds, some of 



am are almost certain to be brought 

 screaming to the earth. But the wily savage 

 has not yet done with them. He avails 

 himself of the extraordinary attachment 

 which these birds have for one another, and 

 fastening a wounded one to a tree, so that 

 its cries may induce its companions to return, 

 he watches Ms opportunity by throwing his 

 kiley or spear to add another bird or two 

 to the booty he has already obtained." The 

 preceding animated description refers not 

 only to the species beneath, but also to spe- 

 cies of the genus Calyptorhynchus, previously 

 described. 



BROAD-CRESTED COCKATOO. (Psittacus 

 cristatus.) This elegant species is about the 

 size of a common fowl j the colour white, j 

 with a faint tinge of rose-colour on the head 

 and breast, and of yellow on the inner wing- { 

 coverts and tail-feathers : on the head is a 

 very ample crest, consisting of large and ; 

 long feathers arching over the whole head, 

 I which the bird can readily raise or depress : i 



these feathers are white above, but of a fine 

 scarlet hue beneath : the tail is short in 

 proportion to the size of the body, and even 

 at the end ; the bill very large, strong, and 

 of a bluish black ; the orbits of the eyes 

 bare, and of a deep ash-colour, and the legg 

 deep cinereous. It is of a mild and docile 

 disposition, but can rarely be taught to 

 articulate any other word than its own name, 

 which it pronounces with great distinctness. 

 New Holland is its locality. 



GREAT SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO. 

 Psittacus galeritus.) This is somewhat 

 larger than the preceding, and measures 

 upwards of two feet in length : its colour is 

 white, slightly tinged with yellow on the 

 sides of the tail, and about the wing-coverts: 

 the head is ornamented with a large, long, 

 and pointed crest, of a fine sulphur colour, 

 slightly reversed at the tip ; the bill is black; 

 and the tail longer than in the Broad-crested 

 Cockatoo. Same locality. 



SMALLER SULPHUR-GUESTED COCKATOO. 

 Psittacus sulphureus). In almost every 

 respect except in size (being only about 

 fifteen inches long), the description just 



gven would apply to this species. The crest 

 shaped as in the preceding bird, and is of 

 a fine sulphur-yellow ; but it has in addi- 

 tion a large yellow spot beneath each eye. 

 The bill is black ; and the legs deep lead- 

 colour. It is a native of the Molucca is- 

 lands. 



RED-VENTED COCKATOO. (.Psittacus Phi- 

 lippinarum.) This is not only the smallest 

 of the White Cockatoos, but its crest is 

 smaller in proportion than the rest of the 

 tribe. The bill is of a pale flesh-colour, and 

 the legs cinereous. It is a native of the 

 Philippine isles. 



COCKLE. [See CARDIUM.] 



COCK OF THE WOODS. [See GROUSE.] 



COCKROACH. [See BLATTA ORIEXTALIS.] 



COD. [For the generic character of the 

 Gadidte, or Codfish tribe, see GADUS.] The 

 COMMOX COD. (Gailus caUarus.) It is 

 almost impossible to estimate too highly the 

 importance of this truly valuable inhabitant 

 of the deep, whether regarded as a supply of 



food, a source of national industry and com- 

 mercial wealth, or as a wonder of nature in 

 its astonishing fecundity. It resides in im- 

 mense shoals in the Northern seas, perform- 

 ing various migrations at stated seasons, 

 and visiting in succession the different coasta 

 of Europe and America. Though found in 

 considerable numbers on the coasts of other 

 northern regions, an extent of about 450 



