io8 



PARROTS. 



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 naturalise these birds in the woods of Norfolk, but the attempt was 



ROSE-CRESTED COCKATOO (% nat. size). 



to a great extent rendered abortive through their wandering habits, whereby many 

 fell victims to the guns of the idlers of the neighbourhood. 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 -cockato 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 



