54.i THE PHILIP ISLAND PARROT. 



Except wlien feeding or reposing on the trees after a repast, the presence of a flock, 

 if not seen, is sure to be indicated by their horrid screaming notes, the discordance of 

 which may be slightly conceived by those who have heard the peculiarly loud, piercing, 

 and grating scream of the bird in captivity ; always remembeiing the immense increase 

 of the din occasioned by the large number of the birds uttering their disagreeable notes 

 at the same moment." 



The colour of this Cockatoo is white, with the exception of the crest, which is of a 

 bright sulphur-yellow, and the under surface of the wings and the basal portions of the 

 inner webs of the tail-feathers, which are of the same colour, but much paler in hue. The 

 total length of this species is about eighteen inches. 



The remarkably handsome bird which is represented on page 543 is a native of 

 Australia. It is called by several names, such as the Tricoloe Ceested Cockatoo, and 

 tlie Pink Cockatoo, by which latter name it is known to the colonists. The title of 

 Leadbeater's Cockatoo was given to the bird in honour of the well-known naturalist, 

 who possessed the first specimen brought to England. 



It is not so noisy as the common species, and may possibly prove a favourite inhabitant 

 of our aviaries, its soft blush-white plumage and splendid crest well meriting the attention 

 of bird-fanciers. The crest is remarkable for its great development, and for the manner 

 in which the bird can raise it like a fan over its head, or depress it upon the back of its 

 neck at will. In either case it has a very fine effect, and especially so when it is elevated, 

 and tlie bird is excited with anger or pleasure. 



The general colour of this bird is white, with a slight pinkish flush. Round the base 

 of the beak runs a very narrow crimson line, and the feathers of the crest are long and 

 pointed, each feather being crimson at the base, tlien broadly barred with golden yellow, 

 then with crimson, and the remainder is white. The neck, breast, flanks, and under tail- 

 coverts are deeply stained with crimson, and the under surface of tlie wing is deep crimson 

 red. The beak is pale greyish white, the eyes brown, and tlie feet and legs dark grey, 

 each scale being edged with a lighter tint. In size it is rather superior to the common 

 white Cockatoo. 



A VERY singular form of Cockatoo is that which is known as the Philip Island, or 

 the Long-billed Parrot. 



This bird is only found in the little island from which it derives its name. It may 

 probably become extinct at no distant period, as its singularly shaped beak renders it an 

 object of attraction to those who get their living by supplying the dealers with skins and 

 various objects of natural history ; and its disposition is so gentle and docile, that it 

 readily accommodates itself to captivity. Philip's Island is only five miles in extent ; and 

 it is a very remarkable fact, that this Long-billed Parrot is never found even in Norfolk 

 Island, though hardly four miles distant. 



Its favourite resorts are among rocky ground interspersed with tall trees, and its food 

 consists mostly of long and succulent vegetable substances. The blossoms of the white 

 Hibiscus afford it a plentiful supply of food, and in order to enable it to obtain the sweet 

 juices of the flowers, the tongue is furnished with a long, narrow, horny scoop at the under 

 side of the extremity, not very unlike the human nail. As earth has often been found 

 upon the long upper mandible, the bird is believed to seek some portion of its food in the 

 ground, and to dig up with its pickaxe of a bill the ground nuts and other subterraneous 

 vegetation. This opinion is strengthened by the fact that another species of Parrot 

 belonging to the same country is known to seek its food by digging. 



The hard and strong fruits which are so favoured by other Parrots, are rejected by 

 this species, whose long bill does not possess the great power needed for cracking the 

 shells. In captivity it has been known to feed upon various soft leaves, such as lettiice 

 and cabbage, and displays a decided predilection for ripe fruits, cream, and butter. 



While on the ground its mode of progression is not the ungainly waddle generally 

 employed by the Parrot tribe, but is accomplished by hopping something after the fashion 

 of the rooks, the wings aiding in each hop. One species of this genus has been known 



