140 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
smaller. There are varieties in which the rich crimson of I 
the hody fades into white and pale rose colour at several \ 
parts. Bechstein describes this as the tamest, most \ 
pleasing, and most delicate of all the parrots." It has a 
hollow voice like that of a ventriloquist, and talks inces- 
santly, piping- in clear round tones, and uttering its natural 
cry, lovT/j loudly and shrilly. 
THE BLACK-CAPPED LORY 1 
Is somewhat smaller than the preceding species, which it so { 
nearly resembles that one is induced to look upon it as but ^ 
a variety. It comes from the same part of the world, and 
is very rare. 
THE SHELL LORY, 
Sometimes called the shell parrot, is a beautiful little bird \ 
of recent introduction into this country, not bigger than a 
sparrow, decked in crimson, and purple, and gold, with a 
tail long and pointed ; it is at once gorgeous and graceful. 
Of the species there seem to be several varieties; but they ; i 
are all exceedingly rare, so that but little is known about 1 
them. j 
THE GREAT WHITE COCKATOO. j ( 
The cockatoos, which derive their name from their usual \ t 
call-note, have in the crest, and the lighter colours of the j 1 
plumage, very obvious marks of distinction from the rest ; [ 
of the parrot tribe. The few species with which Euro- c 
peans are acquainted, inhabit the forests of Australia and ; f 
the Indian isles, where they feed upon the seeds of various s 
trees and plants, being, by means of their powerful bills, t 
able to break the hardest shells in which the kernels are 
enclosed. As far as their habits in a wild state have been . i 
ascertained, they are similar to those of most other parrots. Ci 
When taken from the nest at an early age they appear to ; m 
be easily tamed. Their powers of imitation and utterance G 
are not good ; they can seldom be taught to articulate ; 
more than two or three words ; their extreme beauty and ; ^ 
gentleness of disposition, however, render them very de-- 
sirable cage birds. The above-named species is about 
seventeen inches long i the plumage entirely white, with 
