646 THE BANKSIAN COCKATOO. 



Neither of these birds are remarkable for brilliancy of plumage, the prevailing tints 

 being brown and grey, with a little red and yellow here and there. The Philip's Island 

 Parrot is dark brown on the upper surface of the body, but takes a greyish hue on the 

 head and back of the neck. Each feather of the upper surface is edged with a deeper 

 tinge, so tliat the otherwise uniform grey and brown is agreeably mottled. The cheeks, 

 throat, and breast are yellow, warming into orange on the face. The inner surface of the 

 shoulders is olive-yellow, and the abdomen and both tail-coverts are deep orange-red. 

 The tail is moderately long, and squared at the extremity. Tlie feathers are crossed at 

 their base by bands of orange-yellow and brown, and the under surfaces of the inner webs 

 are brown, mingled with dusky red. The feet are dark blackish brown, and the long bill 

 is uniformly of a brownish tint. The total length of the adult bird is about fifteen inches. 



The Banksian Cockatoo is a good representative of a very curious genus of Cockatoos 

 resident in Australia. 



The plumage of these birds, instead of being white or roseate as in the two previous 

 Cockatoos, is always of a dark colour, and frequently dyed with the richest hues. About 

 six species belong to this genus, and they all seem to be wild and fierce birds, capable of 

 using their tremendously powerful beaks with great effect. Their crests are not formed 

 like those of the common Cockatoo, and the tails are larger and more rounded. 



The Banksian Cockatoo is only found in New South Wales, inhabiting the vast brush 

 district of that land. Its food is mostly of a vegetable nature, consisting chiefly of the 

 seeds of the Banksia ; but the bird will also eat the large and fat grubs of different insects, 

 mostly of a coleopterous nature, which it digs out of the trunks of trees with its strong 

 bill. 



It is not seen in such large flocks as the white Cockatoo, being generally in pairs, 

 although little companies of six or eight in number are occasionally met in the 

 bushes. Being a particvilarly wild and cautious bird, it is not easily approached by a 

 European, except when feeding, at which time it is so occupied that a cautious sportsman 

 may creep within gunshot. The native, however, unencumbered with raiment, and caring- 

 nothing for his time, can glide through the bushes noiselessly, and bring down the bird 

 with a well-aimed stick. 



The flight of this handsome bird is rather heavy, the wings flapping laboriously, and 

 the progress being rather slow. It seldom mounts to any great height, and as a general 

 fact only flies from the top of one tree to another. The eggs are generally two and 

 sometimes three in number, and are laid in the hollow " spout " of a green tree, without 

 any particular nest. 



The chin of the adult male is deep rich black with a green gloss. A broad vermilion 

 band crosses the whole of the tail, with the exception of the two central feathers, and the 

 external webs of the outside feathers. The female is also greenish black, but her plumage 

 is variegated with numerous spots and bars of pale yellow. 



There are many other species of Australian Cockatoos, which cannot be mentioned 

 in these pages. The native mode of hunting Cockatoos is so curious, and displays so well 

 the character of the birds, that it must be given in the words of the writer, Captain Grey. 



" Perhaps as fine a sight as can be seen in the whole circle of native sports, is the 

 killing Cockatoos with the kiley, or boomerang. A native perceives a large flight of 

 Cockatoos in a forest which encircles a lagoon ; the expanse of water affords an open clear 

 space above it, unencumbered with trees, but which raise their gigantic forms all around, 

 more vigorous in their growth from the damp soil in which they flourish. In their leafy 

 summits sit a countless number of Cockatoos, screaming and flying from tree to tree, as 

 they make their arrangements for a night's sound sleep. 



The native throws aside his cloak, so that he may not have even this slight covering 

 to impede his motions, draws his kiley from his belt, and with a noiseless, elastic step, 

 approaches the lagoon, creeping from tree to tree, and from bush to bush, and disturbing 

 the birds as little as possible. Their sentinels, however, take the alarm, the Cockatoos 

 farthest from the water fly to the trees near its edge, and thus they keep concentrating 



