428 Caxakies axd Cage-Birds. 



CRESTED GROUND PARRAKEET {CalopsUha Nfffn-HoUavdkt), Australia. 

 (IlUislnition drawn from living specimens in the possession of, and kindly lent by, Mr. Anton Jamrach.) 

 Viittacus Ncrfa-HoUandis (Russ), Palcsornis Nozks-Hollandiir, Lcptolophus auricomis, Nyniphkus Nordcu-Hollaiulia:, Cacatiia A^oz'a- 

 HoUandia, CaVipsittacus Ntrja-Hollandia:, English dealers' name — Cocl;ateel. German name — " Nymfonsittich," or 

 "Korella." 



The sober-coloured Cockateel is the most gentle and amiable of all Parrots, and if closely 

 scanned, a very pretty bird withal. Very frugal in his food, which consists of canary and a very 

 little millet seed, equally at home in an in-door cage as in an out-door aviary, the Crested 

 Ground Parrakeet deserves to be one of the most popular cage-birds. Never noisy, and not 

 destructive, a pair of these birds may be kept in any roomy, ornamental cage in any sitting- 

 room, or be safely associated with the smallest Finches. Few birds breed more readily in 

 captivity, some pairs laying in a hollow log of wood, whilst others prefer to breed on the 

 ground. They lay from three to seven or even nine white eggs, which are hatched in about 

 three weeks, and the newly-hatched young look like a little yellow bundle of fluff. Cage-bred 

 Cockateels will sometimes learn to talk, male birds proving most teachable. The female, when 

 in fear or angry, indulges in a cat-like hissing. When breeding, my Cockateels ate a little 

 scalded bread mixed with milk and oatmeal, in addition to canary-seed ; but I believe dry seeds 

 will be found sufficient to rear these birds with. When very young, scalded canary and millet 

 seed might be added with advantage. 



COCKATOOS. 



Virtually the genus Cockatoo is confined to Australasia. South of the Australian con- 

 tinent we find Cookatoos in Tasmania, but none in New Zealand. Several species inhabit 

 New Guinea and the Moluccas, including Celebes, but west of Celebes no Cockatoos exist. 

 Towards the east the Solomon Islands appear to be the limit of their zone, and north of the 

 Equator only the Philippine Islands are inhabited by Cockatoos (and by one species only — 

 Cacaina PJiilippinariim, Red-vented Cockatoo). In this comparatively limited zone a large 

 number of species of Cockatoos exist, varying in size from that of a European Jay to that of 

 a Raven. Most Cockatoos are of white plumage, and their feathers have the peculiarity that 

 a fine white dust adheres to them which may be rubbed off, and which will adhere to a coat- 

 sleeve like flour. The distinguishing feature of Cockatoos is the crest, which the birds can 

 erect at pleasure by a contraction of the skin covering their skull. The shape of the crest 

 varies in the different species. 



Cockatoos are easily tamed, and very easily kept. Canary, hemp-seed, oats, and Indian 

 corn are their staple food, which may be supplemented by biscuits, green-meat, and any kind 

 of fruit. Boiled rice and boiled Indian corn must be added in the case of Cockatoos newly 

 imported from the Moluccas or from New Guinea. The Molucca Cockatoos reach Europe 

 mostly vi& Holland, and show much aptitude for learning to talk. 



Within the last ten or fifteen years the large numbers of Cockatoos arriving in England 

 from Australia have almost supplanted the more expensive and much more delicate Cockatoos 

 from the Moluccas. The Australian Cockatoos are, as a rule, so hardy that no limit can be 

 stated as to the number of years they may endure in captivity; but they have much less talent 

 for learning to talk than their cousins from the Moluccas. 



All Cockatoos are, when tame, very affectipnate, but also very jealous, and long remember 

 and resent an injury. The tremendous power of their beaks should never be lost sight of, and 

 makes the handling of Cockatoos a dangerous operation, to be avoided by any one who is not 



