184 
bo»ic Exjjcriences of Cockatoos. 
than never to have kept at all; experience, even if sad, is 
generally useful— to othei'.s, as well as to oneself. Our Jirst 
venture with Cockatoos was made about twelve years ago, 
when a number of Roseates {Cacatua roselcapilla) were given 
their liberty after spending some weeks in an out-dooj- aviary. 
On being released they flew into a tall tree near at hand, con- 
sidered the situation for a few ininutes and then departed cn 
masse, the majority never been seen or heard of again. One 
stray bird, it is true, we did come across a few months later, 
but even that did not appear any moi'e. 
Clearly this method was not one to repeat, so next 
time when we got some Sulphur-crests {Cacalua (jalcrlla}, Ro.m- 
ates, Leadbeaters (C. leadbcateri), and two cock (iung-gangs 
(C'allocep'lialoti galealum), we turned them into a large en- 
closure, with the flight feai.hcjs 01 one wing cut. They played 
havoc with all the trees they could climb — a cut-winged Cocka- 
too doe^ more damage than a dozen full-winged ones, partly 
liccausL l;iting forms the principal outlet for his suptn'tluous 
energico and partly because his destructive work is not dis- 
distributed over a wide area. After their clipped wings 
had grown, the Roseates (none of which were tamej quickly 
departed, and most of the White Cockatoos followed iheir 
exami^lc, so that by the Ijeginning of winter a pair of CJreater 
Sulphur-crests, a hen Leadbeatei''s, and a cock Gang-gang were 
all that remained. The Sulphur-crests were very atti'active 
and made a delightful picture as they circled higli in ihe 
air, their shrieks, mellowed by distance, sounding- not un- 
pleasant to the ear. When spring came round they showed 
evident signs of a desire to nest, but an unlucky incursion 
of workmen into their favourite domain disgusted them (so 
much that they left the garden and were not recovered. 
The Leadbeater's and Gang-gang, who still remained, 
deveIoi)ed a strong attachment for one another, which con- 
tinuea for some years. A few attempts were made to provide 
them with companions, but all unfortunately ended in failure. 
Oii one occasion a fine pair of Gang-gangs were obtained, 
from a dealer, who, I believe, had biought them fi'oin a 
French aviculturalist. After a few days we gave the cock 
bird his liberty, his affection for his mate being so obvious 
that there appeared little danger of his straying far from 
her cage. Our expectations were fully justified, and if we 
