70 



THE RED-VENTED COCKATOO. 



Psitiacus Philippinaruro, Linn.eus ; Le petit Kakatoes des Philippines, Bcppon ; 

 Der rothbauchige Kakatu, Bechstein. 



This species, the size of the grey parrot, is but thirteen 

 inches in length The beak is white, or of a pale flesh colour, 

 and grey at the base ; the circle of the eyes is yellowish-red ; 

 the feet are of a silver-grey ; the general colour of the body is 

 white ; the head is ornamented with a tuft, in wdiich there is 

 nothing remarkable but its raising it in the form of a shell. 



Observations It is a native of the Philippines. Its beauty and great 



docility are its chief merits ; for it cannot speak, and it also appears of a 

 jealous nature, being angry when it sees the other parrots caressed, and 

 making the unpleasant cry of " aiai, miai /" but never " cockatoo.'' 



THE BANKSIAN COCKATOO. 



Psittacus Banksii, Linn^us ; Le Kakatoes Noir, Buffon ; Der Banksche Kakatu, 



BECIISTtlN. 



This certainly is the handsomest, rarest, and most precious 

 of all the cockatoos. It is as large as the red and blue maccaw, 

 its length being from twenty-two to thirty inches. The beak 

 is thick, yellowish, and black at the point ; the iris red, and 

 the feet black. Black is the prevailing colour of its plumage ; 

 the tuft is rather long, but in a state of tranquillity lies flat on 

 the head, as in the preceding cockatoo ; each feather has a 

 yellowish spot exactly on the tip ; the wing-coverts are also 

 terminated with a similar spot. 



Varieties. — Of this beautiful species there are several 

 varieties. 



1. Those with the beak lead-coloured ; the tuft of a mo- 

 derate size, black mixed with the yellow feathers ; the throat 

 yellow ; the sides of the neck spotted with yellow and black ; 

 the tail as above ; all the rest black, without any streaks on 

 the under part of the body. 



2. Those with the beak bluish grey, plumage olive, or black, 

 with a yellowish tint on the sMes of tbo head, but having no 



