THE PINK AND GREAT BLACK COCKATOOS. 101 



as if bowing to each other. But they are not 

 very common; indeed, the Black Cockatoo is con- 

 sidered a rare bird, like a neighbour of his, also 

 found in Australia the Black Swan. 



In the forests of the Aru Islands, the Black 

 Cockatoo is more frequently seen alone, or with 

 one or two companions. His flight is slow 

 and noiseless, and he dies from a very slight 

 wound. He feeds upon the forest nuts, and the 

 fruits and seeds that abound on every hand. 

 But he has one favourite article of food, the 

 seeds of the kanary-nut. These nuts grow on 

 a lofty tree, and have a smooth shell, as hard as 

 iron. 



The Cockatoo takes the nut, which is of a three- 

 cornered shape, in his bill, and holds it fast by 

 means of his tongue, while he saws a slit with the 

 lower part of his bill. Then he takes the nut 

 with his foot and bites off part of a leaf. The 

 leaf is to keep the very smooth shell from slipping 

 about, while he inserts into it the sharp point of 

 his bill, and picks out the kernel bit by bit with 

 his tongue. 



