398 THE GREAT WHITE COCKATOO. 
along the top ot the head, and merely exhibits the tips of its feathers projecting over the 
neck ; but when the bird is excited by anger or pleasure, it can erect the crest as well as the 
common Cockatoo. Some naturalists think that there are two species of Aratoo, the larger 
being distinguished by the title of M. Goliath, and the smaller called by the name of M. 
aterrimum, but the general opinion leans in favor of a single species and two varieties. 
Two species of Cockatoo differ from each other in the color of their crests. 
The first of these is the Great White Cockatoo, a remarkably handsome bird, espe 
dally when excited. In size it is rather a large bird, equalling a common fowl in dimensions, 
and assuming a much larger form when it ruffles up its feathers when under the influence of 
anger. Many of these birds are admirable talkers, and their voice is peculiarly full and loud. 
HEAT WHITE COCKATOO . — Plictolophus moluccensis. 
A Great White Cockatoo which I lately saw, was rather celebrated for his powers of con- 
versation ; but as he was moulting, vocabulary was silenced for the time, and he sat in a 
very disconsolate manner on his percl Poking as if he had fallen into a puddle and not 
had time to arrange his plumage. All the : reast and fore parts of the body were quite bare 
of feathers, and even the beautiful crest i a sodden and woe-begone look. By dint, 
however, of talking to the bird, and rubbing is head, I induced him to favor us with a few 
words, which were given in a voice as full and r nded as that of a strong- voiced man accus- 
tomed to talk to deaf people. 
Presently we were startled with a deafening vgh, not unlike that of the hyena, but 
even louder and more weird-like. On turning round, saw the Cockatoo suddenly transformed 
into a totally different bird, his whole frame literally, dazing with excitement, his crest flung 
