140 GREAT SALMON-CBESTED COCKATOO. 



armed with spades and long brooms, in a corner. It is extraordinarily- 

 fond of children, and perfectly safe with the youngest infant. It is 

 generally most civil to visitors, but working men it cannot abide (on 

 the watch-dog principle, I suppose) ; and if one of them lifts a hammer, 

 or kneels down to do any work, it utters its warning cry of 'Coquey ! 

 CoqueyP and flies at their heels ; and when it has hurt or terrified its 

 victim, flies away shrieking, as if itself in agony or pain, and then 

 goes about limping to make me believe that it has been kicked. 



"1 notice that the bird fights on other grounds, especially when it 

 has chosen a corner as its own, which it defends against all comers, 

 flying out at intruders, and appearing to immensely enjoy their dis- 

 comfiture, though it is the only member of the household that does 

 so. However, the instant I say ' enough V and hold out my hand, it 

 is quiet; for it likes to be petted, but not for very long, as it is 

 equally fond of a change of occupation. It is frightful on furniture, 

 window frames, and paper, anything, in a word, that can be destroyed. 

 "It used always to live in the open air in India, and drive about 

 on my brother's carriage, and in Scotland drove with me regularly 

 when I went out, simply holding on to the back of the pony-chaise, 

 and wild with delight. In the East it lived in the trees; but here, 

 in a tiny garden, in the middle of a town, it is too destructive, and 

 too great a temptation to thieves. It has been stolen twice, but nearly 

 bit the man's hand off on one occasion, and then flew, shrieking, to 

 me in triumph. 



"It is afraid of chickens, or indeed of any bird whatever. It lives 

 mainly in a small cage, and, when tired of that, in a barrel with 

 paper in it, where it is very fond of burrowing, and where it lays its 

 eggs, of which it deposits about three in the course of a year. It 

 delights to fly out of the barrel at the maids, or anyone else who 

 comes near, and seems greatly to enjoy their screaming and running 



"I am not aware whether Cockatoos of this species (the Red-crested 

 Moluccan) have been bred in England; but if anyone who has a male 

 bird of the same kind would kindly lend it to me, I would be glad 

 to try the experiment, and take the greatest care of the loan ; especially 

 as I understand that the care and rearing of young ones has the 

 effect of preventing feather-eaters from destroying their own plumage. 



" On reading over what I had written, I am shocked to find what 

 a one-sided character I have given of my dear but not faultless bird; 

 but some people are so timid as regards Parrots that it is only right 

 to warn them against wickedness; and yet that is not the word, for 

 it is pure fun and mischief — mechante as opposed to mauvaise. 



