iBrREAT 

 HITE-^RESTED <f$OCKATOO. 



Psittacus leucolophus, Russ. 



Synonyms: Gacatua leucolojphus, Cacatua cristatella, 



Plictolophus leucolojphus, etc. Geeman: Ber weisshdubige Kakadu. 



THIS fine bird is often confounded with the Red-crested Cockatoo 

 (Psittacus Moluccensis), its very near relative, as well as with its 

 distant connection, the Great Sulphur-crested Cockatoo of Australia 

 (Psittacus galeritus); it is a native of the Eastern Moluccas, while the 

 Red-crested variety is only found in Cerani, one of the larger islands 

 of the group, and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo abounds in Tasmania, 

 and the whole of the southern portions of the Australian mainland. 



The Moluccas being a Dutch possession, this bird generally arrives 

 in England via Holland, and commands a good price in the bird- 

 market: from sixty to ninety marks being asked and given for it in 

 Germany, while in England it can seldom be obtained for a less sum 

 than £3 or £4. 



In size it almost equals the dimensions of the Red and Blue Macaw 

 (Psittacus Macao). The colour of the beak is bluish-black, the feet are 

 lead colour, and the strong nails black: a white circle surrounds the 

 eye, the irides are black, or brown; the former colour indicating the 

 male and the latter the female. The whole of the plumage is snow- 

 white, with the exception of the primaries and the exterior feathers of 

 the tail, which are primrose yellow. The crest, which the bird can 

 raise and depress at will, is five inches in length, and, when the owner 

 is at rest, it lays close back against the head and upper part of the 

 neck. 



The Red-crested variety, (the difference is so slight that it cannot 

 be constituted into a species) has the crest feathers, all but the first 



