Catching S id pJmr- Crested Cockatoos. 211


Michell in 1905 and 1906. {Avicultural Magazine, N.S., Vol. IV.,

p. 24; Vol. V., p. Si).


Mrs. Johnstone's Lorikeet (7. johnstoniez), bred by Mrs.

Johnstone in 1906. (Avic. Mag., N.S., Vol. V., p. 44).


The Scaly-breasted Lorikeet {Psittenteles chlorolepidotits).

An instance of the successful breeding of this species is recorded

in Notes on Cage Birds (Second Series, p. 170), above the initials

"H.J." The young were reared in mid-winter in an outdoor

aviary. The hen commenced to sit on December 21st and the

young birds (two) left the nest, a large cocoa-nut husk, on Feb-

ruary 26th and March 4th respectively. The year is not given.

These are the only records that I can find of Lorikeets breeding

in this country, but very possibly there are others, and if ain'

member or reader knows of such I would express the hope

that they may be published in this journal.



CATCHING SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS.



[The following article appeared in The Field of March 16th last and

is here reproduced by the courtesy of the Editor of that journal.]


In Australia the Sulphur- crested Cockatoo (Cacatua

galeritd) is the commonest of domesticated wild birds, not even

excepting the Rosella Parrot. Fortunately this lovely and

distinctive bird is holding its own well, and shows little or no

signs of decreasing in numbers. Not long ago I saw a trailing

flock of Cockatoos, about half a mile long and containing some

thousands of birds, pass over my house in the western district of

Victoria. All over Victoria it is the same ; in fact they are so

numerous in some of the wheat - growing districts as to be a

serious pest.


This kind of Cockatoo is gregarious for the greater part of

the year and usually goes about in great flocks ; but towards the

end of July these flocks break up, and in August one may see

the birds in pairs flitting from tree to tree in search of a nesting-

place. They nest iii the hollow stems and branches of the huge

eucalyptus trees that are so common over most of the state of

Victoria. These great gaunt trees tower up to a height of iooftr^



