256 a hand-book of the management of animals 



Observations on the habits of Cockatoos. 



As the rose-crested and the sulphur-crested cockatoos are constantly 

 caged in Lower Bengal, their habits are well known ; the former becomes 

 wonderfully tame in an incredibly short time, and, but for its prone- 

 ness to mischief, can be kept loose in a garden without any risk of its 

 escaping. The experiment was tried some twelve years ago, and was so 

 far a success that the cockatoo always came back to its sleeping cage 

 at night, and, though it occasionally played truant, it never showed any 

 inclination to stray, but greatly enjoyed its freedom and amused itself 

 in various ways. A cockatoo has been known to attend the meetings 

 of the Committee of Management of the gardens, perching with becom- 

 ing gravity on the back of one of the vacant chairs, and joining in any 

 bursts of laughter ; sometimes it would spend the day in an adjoining 

 house, and destroy picture frames and tear window curtains, although it 

 was well treated. The same bird on its expeditions visited the neigh- 

 bouring Observatory and broke some scientific instruments, so that it 

 became requisite to confine him to his cage. Cockatoos are, as a rule, 

 somewhat demonstrative and have various ways of expressing their 

 pleasure : most of them come to the side of the cage to be stroked and 

 spoken to, and have most winning manners, but their temper cannot be 

 always and absolutely trusted. Although not altogether untameable, 

 the Leadbeater's cockatoo wants those qualities for which a pet is valued ; 

 it is somewhat shy and suspicious, and takes a very long time to become 

 reconciled to captivity; teasing makes it wild and spoils its temper 

 for ever. Some of the cockatoos have a curious habit of hiding under 

 the thick hay bedding of the cage, and from there calling out softly 

 as if to create a surprise ; the rose-crested cockatoo, in spite of its many 

 virtues, has one great drawback — it screams loudly and sometimes inces- 

 santly ; the bare-eyed and the great black cockatoos are the least noisy 

 birds. 



For further information about cockatoos, Gould's Birds of Aus- 

 tralia, volume Y, and Parrots in Captivity by W. T. Greene, may be 

 oonsulted. 



(163) THE CEESTED GROUND PARRAKEET. 

 (CALOPSITTA ]N T OVuE-H0LLANME-(GmeZ.) ) 



Description, — General colour of the plumage delicate ashy grey, 

 somewhat paler about the breast and abdomen ; the crest and the face 

 light yellow ; a brownish red patch in the cheek ; the crest, which is 

 pyramidal in shape, varies in thickness and length in different indivi- 

 duals, and the bird has no power to elevate or depress it at will ; the 

 extent and the intensity of the yellow about the face vary somewhat 

 in different specimens and also according to age, and even, as far as has 

 been noticed here, according to the season of the year ; the sexes differ, 

 the female has scarcely any yellow about the face, and the under 

 surface of its tail is barred and mottled instead of being black like the 

 male : total length about 11 inches. 



Hab. — Australia. 



