12 GREAT WHITE-CHESTED COCKATOO. 



they can reach on every part of their bodies, until they are quite bare, 

 with the exception of the head, and the quill and tail feathers, the 

 destruction of which I have never seen them able to accomplish. 



In such a deplorable case what is to be done ? What measures are 

 to be adopted to prevent this self- mutilation ? In the first place, put 

 the bird upon an exclusively vegetable diet, give clean water, fresh dry 

 sharp river-sand, an abundance of green food, of every kind in season, 

 and for three days put a pinch of carbonate of magnesia (Levis) in the 

 drinking vessel: lastly restore the bird to comparative liberty in an 

 empty room, or loft, free from draughts, and furnished with a variety 

 of logs and branches upon which the poor thing can find more con- 

 genial exercise for its beak, than in plucking out by the roots, and 

 chewing, its own feathers. Or, where an empty room is not available, 

 make a collar of pasteboard sufficiently large to prevent the bird from 

 reaching its feathers, when it is slipped over its head, and fixed upon 

 its neck, as a similar contrivance is often placed upon the neck of a 

 horse, to keep the latter animal from nibbling at a sore upon its legs, 

 or flanks: the former mode of procedure, however, is much the more 

 desirable, where attainable, as the collar is apt to greatly terrify the 

 bird at first, and is always difficult of adjustment. 



The Great White Cockatoo is very hardy, and with the most ordi- 

 nary care will live for quite a number of years in captivity upon the 

 simple food recommended above, and will enjoy uninterrupted health; 

 but if pampered and coddled, it will become gouty on the feet, dys- 

 peptic and altogether a miserable and disagreeable object: Verbum sap. 



