Breeding of Hybrid Cockatoos. 269


BREEDING OF HYBRID COCKATOOS.


By R. CoSGRAVK.


One of the most interesting events here this summer is

the nesting of a female Greater Sulphur Crested (Cacatua

galeritd) and Rose-breasted male Cockatoo (C. cos).


Last autumn these birds were given full liberty owing to

their untidy and destructive habits. During the first week of

liberty they were very shy and wandered about a good deal,

eventually coming back to their old home for good, and settled

down in the immediate neighbourhood, amusing themselves

amongst the trees, whose softer parts came in for a good deal of

attention. During last winter a large walnut tree, within twenty

yards of the aviary, took their fancy more than any other, and

in this they set about in earnest to build a home. None of the

many holes in this tree were large enough to admit them; so

selecting one, a little more than half way up, they worked away

at it in turns, until a good-sized comfortable abode was ready.

The amount of chins they ejected was astonishing, amounting to

several bucket-loads, to the horror of the gardener, who declared

they would kill the tree and ought to have their necks twisted ;

it was good going and did not take very long as this particular

bough was more or less decomposed. The way in which one

worked while the other rested close by was especially notice¬

able.


During the last week in March we noticed that the two

birds did not come to feed together as usual. I suspected that

they had a nest and kept a sharp look out, but neither of the

birds would go near the tree while anyone was about who would

be likely to see them. Taking cover within sight of the tree, I

was rewarded after a long wait to see the male come 011 one of

the outer branches ; he had a good look round to see that there

was 110 one in sight, dropped quietly close to the nest and looked

in, a hasty whisper and out came the female who went straight

away to the food-pan, the male at once took her place on the nest.

By this behaviour I was quite sure that the nest contained eggs;

after a few more days the birds did not mind in the least who

saw them visit the nest. When three weeks had passed, by

means of a long ladder, we had a look in the nest and were



