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The Marquis op Tavistock,



but this seed is not sufficiently nourishing and birds which will

touch nothing else seldom thrive.


Banksian Cockatoos do well in cages, but are not seen to

any advantage in such close confinement. When taken young they

are easily tamed and made dignified and charming pets, loving to be

noticed by their owner and allowed to sit on his shoulder, though

they have a curious objection to being stroked or having their beads

rubbed, the gentlest of them tolerating rather than enjoying such

attentions. Adult Banksians which have never been tamed are

extremely nervous and intractable, and even when thoroughly

reconciled to captivity are terribly upset by a sudden change of

surroundings, refusing food for days in a strange place and uttering

a grating scream of fear whenever a person approaches them. Black

Cockatoos are not so hardy as most of their white cousins, and

while able to stand a certain amount of frost are very sensitive to

the effects of cold fog. My experiment with these birds at liberty

ended in failure, but rather owing to a series of unfortunate accidents

than to their unsuitability for life under such conditions. I did not

find them particularly destructive and some individuals never damaged

the trees at all. The adult cock Banksian is entirely black with a

scarlet bar across the tail. The hen is spotted and barred with

yellow and yellowish red. Anyone who desires to attempt to breed

this species should be careful not to allow his cock to become too

tame. If he does, the bird will transfer his entire affection to bis

owner and display nothing but fear or dislike towards his intended

mate.


Great-billed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhyncus macro-

rhyncus ).—A local race of the Banksian, differing in the rather

larger size of the beak.


Western Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhyncus stellatus ).—

Much smaller than the Banksian and with a rounder crest. The

cry of the male stellatus is much shriller than that of the male

Banksian and more nearly resembles the call of the female of the

latter species.


MACAWS.—Food : Canary, wheat, oats, maize, hemp, sun¬

flower, nuts, fruit, green food, dry bread, plain biscuit and stale

sponge cake. Macaws are very hardy birds, seldom ill when pro-



