96 CURIOUS HOMES AND THEIR TENANTS. 



" At length their pursuer reaches the water and 

 discloses his dark form to their view. Amid piercing 

 shrieks the white cloud of birds rises in the air, and at 

 the same moment the Australian launches his weapon 

 among them. The boomerang, which was thrown 

 with great force, dances and springs in the most won- 

 derful manner over the water, and then, rising higher 

 and higher in its wayward flight, is soon careering 

 in the midst of the frightened flocks. A second, a 

 third, and a fourth weapon are discharged ; in vain 

 the terrifled creatures attempt to escape ; the apparent 

 aimless course of the missile bewilders and delays 

 their flight. One after the other is strack by the 

 boomei'ang and comes fluttering to the ground, 

 knocked senseless or with broken wing, screaming 

 with pain and terror ; and it is not until the dusky 

 hunter has attained his end that the remainder of the 

 terrified flock hide themselves in the foliage of the 

 trees." 



The Australians eat the bird ; and although a na- 

 tive Australian will eat almost anything, the flesh of 

 a cockatoo is really tolerably good, and the soup made 

 from it is excellent. 



The great number of these birds that are exported 

 to eveiy part of the civilized world proves that they 

 are not difiicult to capture or keep, for, if properly 

 fed and cared for, they will live a very long time ia 

 captivity. 



A cockatoo can be taught to speak pretty well, 

 though, of course, is never as teachable as true par- 

 rots ; it becomes very tame, and if kindly and gently 



