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Ducorps' Cockatoo. 
Cocky, for that is how he introduced liimself to toe, 
vvixs one of the tamest birds I have known. I say was, not 
because he has joined the great majority, but has gone to one 
of our members — Mr. Thorniiey. I was sorry to part with 
him, but my Bhie- crowned Conure (Conuru,s ha&morrhons)» 
a rare bird and an exceptionally tine talker, took a dislike to 
him, and fearing this (as he sulked), would stop him talking, 
loth as 1 was to part, Cocky had to go. 
The Ducorps' is one of the smaller White Cockatoos, 
which inhabit the Solomon Islands; when at rest it looks as 
if it were a white marble image. The crest, unlike that of 
the great White Cockatoo, is short and thick, white lined with 
a delicate salmon -pink; the wing feathers, when the bird is 
Hying, show a pale primrose -yellow edging beneath. This 
sketchy description and the photos will convey a general 
idea of his appearance and character. The photos were 
taken by my brother last year, while Cocky was enjoying 
open-air treatment in the garden. 
1 lirst saw Cocky when on a visit to an east-end 
bird shop to obtain my monthly supply of mealworms for 
my Weavers. In a small Parrot-cage was a dirty whitd 
bird, looking like a chief mourner at a funeral; I spoke to 
him and he pulled himself up and greeted me as follows: 
'"hullo cocky" — "little piece for Cocky"; the dealer said 
he was quite lame, so being familial' with these birds I opened 
the door of his cage and, before you could count ten, he was 
out and had scrambled on to my shoulder. We were soon 
friends and 1 decided to add another member to my feathered 
family. He did not relish being put into a box for transit 
to his new home, and showed, although quite tame, that under 
provocation of this kind he could use his beak; what power 
these birds possess in their mandibles! Don't think it was 
my linger, 1 thought as the dealer was going to have the 
money he would like to take the risk of a parting gift too. 
Thus Cocky came into my possession. 
As soon as I arrived home I took off the lid of the 
box and out he scrambled, evidently ^■ery glad to be free 
again. I found he was just commencing to moult, and after 
several baths — he was fond of a good splash too — his new 
feathers began to show; in three months you would not have 
recognised him for the same bird. When I bought him, one 
