THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
Nest. “ A hole in a tree, about 18 to 24 inches down, and lined with sticks ” (Barnard). 
Eggs. Clutch one, white : according to North sometimes pitted and with limy excrescences. 
51-55 mm. by 38-41. 
Breeding-season. August to January. 
The technical history of the species will follow hereafter, but the notes here 
given constitute its economic history in Australia. 
It was discovered in 1847 that the species inhabited Cape York, when 
Macgillivray, on H.M.S. “ Rattlesnake,” visited there. His notes were 
published by Gould as follows : 
“ This very fine bird, which is not uncommon in the vicinity of Cape 
York, was usually found in the densest scrub among the tops of the tallest 
trees, but was occasionally seen in the open forest land perched on the 
largest of the Eucalypti , apparently resting on its passage from one belt of 
trees or patch of scrub to another ; like the Calyptorhynchi, it flies slowly, 
and usually but a short distance. In November 1849, the period of our last 
visit to Cape York, it was always found in pairs, very shy, and difficult of 
approach. Its cry is merely a low short whistle of a single note, which 
may be represented by the letters ‘ Hweet — JiweeV The stomach of the first 
one killed contained a few small pieces of quartz and triturated fragments 
of palm cabbage, with which the crop of another specimen was completely 
filled ; and the idea immediately suggests itself, that the powerful bill of this 
bird is a most fitting instrument for stripping off the leaves near the summits 
of the Seaforthia elegans and other palms to enable it to arrive at the central 
tender shoot.” 
In the Emu , Vol. XI., p. 22, 1911, Barnard continued the histoiy : 
“ These birds were nowhere plentiful. They breed in the forest country, and 
appear to feed in the scrub, on the kernels of large fruits and grubs chopped 
out of rotten wood. When not breeding they are generally seen in flocks of 
from 3 to 7. The first nest was found on 27th September, 1910, and contained 
a young bird about 10 days old. From the same hole I later on took two 
clutches, one egg each — the first on December 18th, 1910, and the other on 
15th January, 1911. Two other sets were taken — one on 29th September, 
1910, and the other on 19th December, 1910. These Cockatoos select upright, 
large, hollow spouts, the eggs being placed at depths varying from 2 to 8 feet 
from entrance of hole, and from 10 to 50 feet from the ground. Owing to 
the nests being placed in the upright hollows, they are exposed to the heavy 
rains, and to obviate risk of drowning to the young birds, the parents cut 
green sticks about 1 inch in diameter and from 12 to 18 inches in length, which 
are carried from the scrub to the nesting-hole, down which they are dropped. 
The birds then climb down the hollows, and chop the sticks up into small 
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