Ducorps' Cockatoo. 
75 
wing liad been clipped, so, of course, he was unable to lly, 
but even after all his llight-featliers were grown, only on one 
occasion did I know him to use them thoroughly. He ar- 
rived in the early summer, and every morning his cage was 
put out in the garden beside that of the Conure. When I 
was at home Cocky was given his liberty; he would walk 
across the lawn and climb up to your shoulder and kiss you, 
bark like a dog and imitate a hen calling her chicks to per- 
fection; he was also an accomplished whistler. Sometimes 
while I was watering my front garden, Cocky would accom- 
pany me on my shoulder, much to the astonishment of passers 
by. When he was being photographed in the garden his 
cage was accidently knocked over, this was the only occasion 
on which I saw him use his wings out of doors — as the cage 
went down Cocky rose in the air and I thought he was lost, 
but after- a lly round the house, he came back and settled 
on my neighbour's lawn, and 1 fetched him round; from that 
day to the time he went to Mr. Thorniley, he never attempted 
to lly again when out of doors, though he would fly across 
a room from one person to another. 
As a linguist I considered him exceptional for a Cock- 
atoo. On entering the room one was greeted with " Hullo 
Cocky" — "A little piece for Cocky" — "Pretty Cocky," etc., 
his bark was perfect, as also was his mimicry of barn door 
fowls, and his whistling was equally good — had he remained 
with me, undoubtedly his progress would have been con- 
tinuous i ; I I j 
He appeared at the Horticultural Hall on two occa- 
sions, and was awarded third and second prizes in successive 
years > , > 
He Avas easy to cater for, his staple diet being can- 
ary, sunflower, and hemp seeds, apple, toast crusts; nuts he 
never refused; as a tit -bit he would help himself from my 
porridge basin after I had finished, but perhaps, what he 
liked best of all, was to take anything you might be eating 
from your lips, nothing came amiss, but I never allowed 
him to have it when there was meat or fish going. 
In conclusion, let me advise my readers, that if they 
contemplate trying one of the Cockatoo family to get a Du- 
corps'; their value is about £4 (acclimatised), as they are 
very uncommon on the English bird-market. 
