CALYPTORHYNCHUS BANKSII. 
Banksian Cockatoo. 
Psittacus Banksii, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 107. — Ib. Gen. Syn., p. 63. p. 109. — Parkinson’s Voy., p. 144. — Cook’s 
Voy., vol. ii. p. 18. — Shaw, Gen. Zook, vol. viii. p. 476. — Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 199. pi. 27 (te- 
male). 
Psittacus magnificus, Shaw, Nat. Misc., pi. 50. 
Calyptorhynchus BanJcsii, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 271. 
stellatus, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Ahhand., tom. i. p. 683. pi. 27 (a very young bird). — Selby in Nat. 
Lib. Orn., vol. vi. Parrots, p. 134. 
I HAVE abundant reasons for stating that every portion of Australia yet visited by Europeans is inhabited by 
members of the genus Calyptorhynchus, and that at least six species are now known, each of which has its 
own peculiar limits, beyond which it seldom or never passes. The present species, which is one of those 
with which we first became acquainted, and to which, as will be seen above, several specific appellations 
have been given, is a native of New South Wales, out of which colony I have never known it to occur, its 
range appearing to be limited by Moreton Bay on the east and Port Philip on the south. It is not unfre- 
quently seen in the immediate neighbourhood of Sydney and other large towns, and it alike frequents the 
brushes and the more open wooded parts of the colony, where it feeds on the seeds of the Banksice and 
Casuarincs, changing its diet however, as occasion may offer, to caterpillars, particularly those that infest 
the wattles and other low trees. The facility with which it procures these large grubs is no less remarkable 
than the structure of the bird’s bill, which is admirably adapted for scooping out the wood of both the 
larger and smaller branches, and by this means obtaining possession of the hidden treasure. 
The Banksian Cockatoo is a suspicious and shy bird, and it requires a considerable degree of caution to 
approach it within gun-shot ; there are times however, particularly when it is feeding, when this may be 
more readily accomplished. It never assembles in large flocks like the Wliite Cockatoo, but moves about 
either in pairs or in small companies of from four to eight in number. Its flight is heavy, and the wings 
are moved with a flapping, laboured motion ; it seldom mounts high in the air, for although its flight is 
somewhat protracted, and journeys of several miles are performed, it rarely rises higher than is sufficient 
to surmount the tops of the lofty Eucalypti, a tribe of trees it often frequents, and in the* larger kinds of 
which it almost invariably breeds, depositing its two or three white eggs in some inaccessible hole, spout 
or dead limb, the only nest being the rotten wood at the bottom, or the chips made by the bird in forming 
an excavation. 
The female and young birds of both sexes differ very considerably from the old male in the marking of 
their plumage, and hence has arisen no end of confusion and the various names assigned to this bird ; the 
above list of synonyms has been worked out with considerable care, and will I believe be found correct. 
It is with feelings of great pleasure that I find that the term Banksii, having the priority, the name of 
the illustrious Banks, will ever be retained as the distinctive appellation of this noble and ornamental bird ; 
and I would that it were in my power to write as many pages respecting its habits and economy as I have 
lines ; hut this task must devolve upon some future historian of the productions of a country teeming with 
the highest interest, and who will doubtless find occupation in investigating the minute details of that 
respecting which I am only able to give a general outline. 
The male has the entire plumage glossy greenish black, with a broad band of rich deep vermilion across 
the middle of all but the two central tail-feathers, and the external web of the outer feather on each side ; 
feet mealy brown ; bill in young specimens greyish white, in old specimens black. 
The female has the general plumage glossy greenish black, each feather of the head, sides of the neck 
and wing-coverts pale yellow ; under surface crossed by narrow irregular bars of pale yellow, becoming 
fainter on the abdomen ; under tail-coverts crossed by narrow freckled bars of yellowish red ; tail banded 
with red, passing into sulphur-yellow on the inner margins of the feathers, and interrupted by numerous 
narrow irregular bars and freckles of black. 
The Plate represents the male and female about two-thirds of the natural size. 
