JO CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



white eggs, which resemble those of the Tufted Cockatoos, are generally laid on a bed of decayed 

 wood upon the ground, or in some hole in a large gum-tree. This species can endure captivity 

 for many years, and has lately been brought to Europe in great numbers, but, notwithstanding this, 

 it is not often met with in our collections. Gould has observed that a caged Nose Cockatoo is much 

 more sullen, gloomy, and irritable than others of its race, and this we can fully confirm, having had 

 for a year one of these birds in our possession, that has never become reconciled to its keeper, but 

 threatens with its beak all who approach ; it cannot endure to be stroked or touched, and everything 

 unusual excites its rage ; at such times it erects the small horseshoe-shaped crest upon its brow, so 

 that the splendid red feathers are displayed, wags its head violently, repeatedly snaps its beak, and 

 screams most furiously. The word " cockatoo " is mingled with its cries, but uttered in quite another 

 tone to that employed by its congeners ; the latter generally utter it in a soft drawling manner, whilst 

 the Nose Cockatoo on the contrary pronounces the two first syllables hurriedly, and lays a strong 

 emphasis on the last. The facility with which this parrot can move its beak in any direction is very 

 remarkable, and no other species that we are acquainted with has such suppleness and command of 

 the joints of its jaws. The beak of the Nose Cockatoo is, indeed, the most extraordinary pair of 

 pincers that ever was constructed. In justice to this bird, we must add to the foregoing remarks 

 that it may occasionally be made very tame, and not only learns to speak, but is able to 

 apply its language very intelligently. There is one in the Zoological Gardens at Antwerp that is 

 an universal favourite with the visitors, with whom it converses freely, greeting its acquaintances 

 as soon as they appear, without the slightest ill-humour or sullenness. 



THE NESTOR COCKATOO. 



The Nestor Cockatoo {Nestor productus) represents a very remarkable tribe of parrots, recog- 

 nisable by their extraordinarily elongated beak and sickle--shaped upper mandible, which projects far 

 beyond the lower. The tail is of middle size, the points of the tail-feathers being in some places 

 denuded of their web, and the wings, when closed, reach nearly to the middle of the tail. The tarsus 

 is decidedly higher, and the plumage harsher and more imbricated than in other Cockatoos. In our 

 specimen it is much variegated, the upper part of the body is brown, the head and back of the neck 

 mottled with grey, each of the feathers covering these parts being bordered with a darker shade. 

 The under part of the body and tail-covers are of a deep red; the breast, throat, and cheeks, are 

 yellow, the latter having a reddish tint ; the tail-feathers are orange at the root, and striped with 

 brown : the inner web of the quills is dark red and brown ; the bare place round the eyes, the legs, 

 and the cere, are of an olive brown ; the beak is brown ; and the eye a very dark brown. Both 

 sexes are similarly coloured, but the young are of a dark olive brown on the breast, instead of being 

 adorned with the red and gold that decks their parents. 



The Nestor Cockatoos are not only striking in their appearance, but lead a somewhat remark- 

 able life ; they are confined to a very limited district, only inhabiting New Zealand and the neigh- 

 bouring islands. The bird we have just described is only found on Philip's Island, the circumference 

 of which does not exceed five miles ; and Gould informs us that people living for many years on 

 Norfolk Island, at about four or five miles distance, have never seen it. The extremely limited 

 extent of the habitat of this species is very unpromising as regards its preservation, and it will doubt- 

 less soon share the fate of the Dronte ; since the cultivation of the island, it has been periodically 

 hunted, and its days are numbered ; probably it is already extinct, as we have seen nothing of it for 

 several years. The rocky parts of the island, partially covered with trees, form, or rather did form, its 

 favourite resort ; here it passes its time, principally upon the ground, seeking for roots, which it digs 



