SULPHUR-CHESTED COCKATOO. 541 



especially when excited. In size it is rather a large bird, equalling a common fowl in 

 dimensions, and assuming a much larger form when it ruffles up its feathers when under 

 the influence of anger. Many of these birds are admirable talkers, and their voice is 

 peculiarly full and loud. 



A Great White Cockatoo which I lately saw, was rather celebrated for his powers of 

 conversation ; but as he was moulting, his vocabulary was silenced for the time, and he 

 sat in a very disconsolate manner on his perch, looking as if he had fallen into a puddle 

 and not had time to arrange his plumage. All the breast and fore-parts of the body were 

 quite bare of feathers, and even the beautiful crest had a sodden and woe-begone look. 

 By dint, however, of talking to the bird, and rubbing his head, I induced him to favour 

 us with a few words which were given in a voice as full and rounded as that of a strong- 

 voiced man accustomed to talk to deaf people. 



Presently we were startled with a deafening laugh, not unlike that of the hyaena, but 

 even louder and more weird-like. On turning round, I saw the Cockatoo suddenly 

 transformed into a totally different bird, his whole frame literally blazing with excitement, 

 his crest flung forward to the fullest extent, and repeatedly spread and closed like the 

 fan of an angry Spanish lady, every feather standing on end and his eyes sparkling with 

 fury while he volleyed forth the sounds which had so startled us. The cause of this 

 excitement was to be found in the persons of two children who had come to look at the 

 bird, and who by some means had excited his ire. He always objected to children, 

 probably with good reason, and being naturally irritable from the effect of moulting, his 

 temper was aroused by the presence of the objects of his dislike. 



The plumage of this species is white with a very slight roseate tinge, and the crest 

 is white. 



The species of Cockatoo which is most common in England is the SuLPHUE-CEESTED 

 COCKATOO, well depicted in the illustration. It may readily be distinguished from the 

 preceding bird by the bright yellow colour of its crest and its more pointed form. 



This bird is an inhabitant of different parts of Australia, and is especially common in 

 Van Diemen's Land, where it may be found in flocks of a thousand in number. Owing 

 to the ease with which it is obtained, it is frequently brought to England and is held in 

 much estimation as a pet. 



A Cockatoo which I have lately seen, a young bird, displays admirably many 

 peculiarities of the Cockatoo nature. 



As yet it is not a very accomplished linguist, although it can repeat many words with 

 much fidelity. It certainly has some notion of the meaning attached to certain words, as 

 it can distinguish bstween the various members of the family, and when they enter the 

 room will frequently utter their name. Sometimes it will act in the same manner when 

 they leave the room. It can laugh merrily, but in rather too loud a tone for sensitive 

 ears, and promises well for further accomplishments. Like others of the parrot tribe, it 

 rejoices greatly in exercising its sharp beak, and is very fond of biting to pieces every bit 

 of wood that may come in its way. 



Empty cotton-reels are favourite toys, and it watches the gradual diminution of the 

 thread with great interest, knowing that it is sure to have the wooden reel after the thread 

 has been used. When the reel is placed on the outside of the cage the bird descends 

 from its perch, pushes one of its feet through the wires and with extended toes feels in 

 every direction for its toy. When the position of the coveted article is found, the bird 

 grasps it with its feet, draws it through the wires, and bites it to pieces. Many times it 

 has been known to split a reel with a single bite. Sometimes its owners give it one of 

 those flat wooden discs on which silk-ribbon has been wound, and in such cases it always 

 takes care to turn the disc edgeways before attempting to bring it through the wires. 



So powerful is its beak that it can break up the shell of a periwinkle or even a whelk, 

 and with its curved beak peck out the inhabitant. In a similar manner it will crack nuts 

 to pieces, and extract the kernel ; but seems to do so merely for the pleasure of exercising 

 its beak, as it generally allows the kernel to fall on the floor and contents itself with 

 breaking the shell into many little pieces. 



