Some Experiences of Cockatoos- 
185 
had only kept her shut up for a few months until he had 
beconu! thorougiily familiar with hi.s surroundings, all would 
probably have gom' \\\'ll. Unluckily, however, we did not 
do thid: the hen was released far too soon, and she and her 
mate left immediately and were never recovered. About the 
same time a second l^eadbeater's was turned out, but thai, too, 
was lost almost at once. Possibly it was not of the opposite 
sex to the bird already at liberty, or else the old Gang -gang 
may have discouraged the presence oi a possible rival jand 
driven him away from the garden. About a year later I 
secured a fine pair of Leadl)eaters' and, being absent from 
home at the time, gave directions that one only was to be 
released. The hen was accordingly let out, but owing lo 
an unfortunate mistake the cock was removed in his cage to 
a place where she was afraid to visit him, and hi consequence 
she quickly vanished. After that 1 cut the cock's wing and 
turned him into a walled enclosure, in company with another 
hen, but, unluckily, she caught cold and died after she had 
been only a short time in my possession. In due course the 
cock moulted and Hew out, staying for a few weeks, ljut 
eventually taking his de})arture owing to disturbance at his 
favourite feeding place. The original bird had disappeared 
some time previously ,and had probably died, as it is unlikely 
that she would have deserted her alien mate, and, if siie had 
wandered, the Gang-gang would have left with her. C. 
leadbeatcri is a very beautiful Cockatoo and it is a pity 
that our experiments with it at liberty were so unfortunate. 
A'S a cage and aviary bird it possesses certain rather serious 
drawbacks, as, although quite hardy, it is often shy and un- 
sociable in disposition and very spiteful towards other birds. 
It is also given to screanung hideously and why 'it has been 
described as comparatively silent, I cannot imagine. In 
my opinion its screeches are infhiitely more painful than the 
best efforts of the much-abused Hoseate. After the loss of 
hio companion we decided to provide the Gang-gang with a 
mate of his own species, and ultimately secured a very young 
hen, still partly covered with down, and quite unable to lly. 
The cock was much excited by her arrival, and, though rather 
inclined to treat her roughly at first, he soon became a model 
and devoted husband. For a time everything went well, but 
unluckily we made the mistake of leaving the hen too long 
