The Cockatoos. 109 



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beaks of male and female of Gacatua hcematitropygict, 



WHEN VIEWED FROM ABOVE. 



CHAPTER XXL 



THE COCKATOOS (Cacatuidce). 



In these birds the males have the iris of the eye darker than the 

 females. 



Subfamily Cacatuinae (Typical Cockatoos). 



The form of the beak, when viewed from above, differs sexually 

 somewhat as in the Lories and Lorikeets. I give an illustration of 

 Cacatua hcematitropygict,. 



The Black Cockatoos, though rare in the market and extremely 

 unattractive in appearance, have to be included ; indeed, with birds 

 like the Parrots, which are constantly brought home by sailors and 

 many others not specially interested in natural history, it is 

 important not to omit species on account of their present rarity. 

 At any time quite a respectable number may be brought home, and 

 efforts made by lovers of the order to breed them. 



Great Black Cockatoo (Microglossias aterrimus). 



The beak of the male is much longer and more regularly tapered 

 than that of the female, and the terminal hook is considerably 

 longer. The female is also a smaller bird. 



Funereal Cockatoo (C ' alyptorhynchus funereus). 



Specimens not sexed, but probably the structural differences are 

 similar to those of the preceding species. 



Banksian Cockatoo (C alyptorhynchus banksi). 



The female differs from the male as follows : — " Head and upper 

 wing-coverts spotted with yellow j under surface crossed by narrow 

 irregular bars of pale yellow, which become yellowish-red on the 

 under tail-coverts ; the red part of the tail interrupted by numerous 



