THE SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO. 399' 



forward to the fullest extent, and repeatedly spread and closed like the fan of an angi-y 

 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 is the Sulphi'r-crested Cockatoo. It 

 may readily be distinguished from the preceding bird by the bright yellow color 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 mth 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 between the various members of the family, and when they enter the room wlD 

 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 

 exercisihg 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 favorite 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 througli 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 o^vners 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 sheU 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. 



When I saw it, the plumage was in very fine order, and the crest with its double fan 

 of bright yellow feathers had a remarkably fine effect as the bird ruffled up its plumage, 

 erected the crest, and began bowing and crying " Pretty Cocky ! " in a very excited state of 

 mind. 



Although its beak is so powerful, it can climb up the hands or face of any one whom it 

 knows without doing any damage, whereas another Cockatoo of my acquaintance once inflicted 

 unwitting but painful damage on my finger, as it lowered itself from my hand to its perch. I 

 suppose that the bird found the substance of the finger yielding under the pressure of its 

 beak, and fearful lest it should fall, gripped the finger in hope of saving itself, thereby inflict- 

 ing a rather severe wound, and bruising the surrounding parts to such an extent that the 

 whole finger swelled gi-eatly, and for nearly a week could not be used. 



The Cockatoo seems to court notice even more than the parrot, and will employ various 

 ingenious manoeuvres in order to attract attention to its perfections. They are mostly good 



