COCKATOOS. 



107 



which curve forwards. One of the best known representatives of this group is 

 the greater sulphur -crested cockatoo {Cacatua galerita) from Australia, in which 

 the feathers of the body are pure white, the cere naked, the crest sulphur-yellow, 

 and the naked skin round the eyes white. This is one of the largest species, 

 measuring from 18 to 20 inches in total length. In the much smaller lesser 

 sulphur-crested cockatoo, in which the length does not exceed 13 inches, the body- 

 feathers are slightly tinged with yellow, while there is also a patch of yellow on 

 the ear-coverts, in addition to that on the crest ; this species inhabiting Celebes 

 and some of the neighbouring islands. From both of these the citron -crested 

 cockatoo (C. citrino-cristatus), from the island of Timor-Laut, is readily distin- 

 guished by the orange-yellow of the crest. Far more gorgeous than all the others 

 is, however, the beautiful Leadbeater's 

 cockatoo {C. leadheateri) of South Aus- 

 tralia, in which the crest is vermilion at 

 the base, with a yellow band traversing 

 this coloured area; while the tips of the 

 feathers are white. The cere is also 

 feathered. While the plumage of most of 

 the upper-parts is white, the sides of the 

 head, neck, together with the breast, under- 

 parts, and tail-coverts, are tinged with a 

 pale rose-colour, being very bright under 

 the wings. In size this species comes 

 next to the greater sulphur-crest, its total 

 length being about 16 inches. 



In the second great group the feathers 

 of the crest, as shown in our figure of the 

 head of Ducorps' cockatoo (G. ducorpis) of 

 the Solomon Islands, are broad with 

 rounded tips, which do not curve for- 

 wards. In the larger forms, which 

 correspond in size to the greater sulphur-crested species, the feathers of the crest 

 are very long, and the cere is naked. One of the best known forms is the great 

 white-crested cockatoo (C. alba), from the Halmahera Group of the Moluccas, in 

 which the whole plumage is white. Readily distinguished by its vermilion crest 

 the rose-crested cockatoo (C. moluccensis), which appears to be confined to the 

 islands of Ceram and Amboyna, is represented in the figure on the next page. 

 The remaining species are smaller, and have the cere feathered. Most of them 

 have the under surface of the body white; but the red -breasted cockatoo (C. 

 roseicapilla) differs from all the other members of the genus in having the whole 

 of the under surface of the body of a brilliant full rose-colour, and the upper-parts 

 grey, the crown of the head being pale rosy white. It is widely distributed in 

 Australia, and measures 14 inches in total length. The blood-stained cockatoo {G. 

 sanguinea) is from North Australia. 



All the cockatoos of this group are gregarious, some of the 

 species, like the greater sulphur-crest, associating in immense flocks ; 



HEAD OF BLOOD-STAINED COCKATOO. 

 (From Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1871.) 



Habits. 



