451 



Order PSITTACIFORMES. 

 Family CACATOIDAE. 



Lophochroa leadbeateri, Vigors (Pink Cockatoo). 

 Was observed once at Innamincka, where a pair was 

 breeding. 



Ducorpsius gymnopis, Sclater (Bare-eyed Cockatoo). 



These birds had congregated in thousands along the 

 Strzelecki and Cooper Creeks, where they were in full nesting 

 operations. They were in company with Eolophus roseicapillus, 

 which they apparently dominated, for they took possession 

 of the highest nesting places. They kept up a discordant 

 screeching from daybreak till dark; they were continually 

 flying backwards and forwards from their feeding ground in 

 the sandhills and out upon the flats to their nesting sites in 

 the timber along the creek. Upon investigating it was found 

 that their principal food consisted of the seed of the Bladder 

 Saltbush (A triplex vesicaria). While travelling up the 

 Strzelecki in September, from two to four eggs were found in 

 the nests, while in the middle of October, while descending 

 the Cooper, large young were found in all nests examined. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 15 9 ^81 mm. 818 mm. 



September 15 <$ 394 mm. 838 mm. 



September 25 9 373 mm. 818 mm. 



Eolophus roseicapillus, Vieillot (Rose-breasted Cockatoo). 



These cockatoos were even more numerous than the 

 preceding species, and had collected on all timbers near creeks 

 or other waters to nest; there being so many birds they had 

 to make shift with any nesting places — from the topmost 

 hollow branch to near the surface of the ground. Four eggs 

 seemed to be the usual clutch, laid upon the bare wood. 

 This is a much quieter bird in comparison with the 

 preceding species, and its note is not nearly so harsh and 

 grating. It was a wonderful sight to see several hundreds of 

 these beautiful birds alight upon a dead tree. Their food 

 seemed to be the same as that of the bare-eyed bird. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



October 10 ... j 355 mm. 812 mm. 



October 10 ... 9 330 mm. 756 mm. 



.Leptolophus auricomis, Swainson (Cockatoo Parrot). 

 This bird was only seen once or twice. A specimen was 

 taken on the Strzelecki at Caraweena. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 22 — 3l7 mm. 495 mm. 



p2 



