188 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



longer feathers of the crest measure as much as seven 

 inches in length. 



The following particulars relative to the habits of 

 these birds are derived from information communicated 

 to Mr. Vigors and Dr. Horsfield by Mr. Caley, who 

 travelled for many years in the pursuit of scientific 

 objects in New Holland, and brought with him from 

 that country an extensive collection of birds, which are 

 now in the possession of the Linnean Society. These 

 Cockatoos are met with in large flocks on the banks of 

 several rivers of New South Wales, but are shy and 

 not easily approached. They make their nests in the 

 rotten limbs of trees, of nothing more than the vege- 

 table mould formed by the decayed parts of the bough ; 

 and lay no more than two eggs at a time, which are 

 white and without spots. The situation of these nests 

 is readily discovered by the conspicuous heaps that lie 

 upon the ground beneath some adjoining tree, from 

 which the old birds cut a quantity of small branches 

 when their young are nearly fledged, strip oflf their 

 bark, and dividing it into shreds deposit it in heaps 

 upon the ground. Their breeding-places appear to be 

 local, and the flesh of the young is said to be good 

 eatino-. 



