BLACK. COCKATOO. 
“ C. f. xanihonotus. This seems to he a fairly common bird in Tasmania, 
for small parties are scattered all through the heavily-timbered country ; 
they seem to have the same habits, flight and call as the mainland bird. The 
only thing is they seem to be more diligent in stripping the bark off the 
large forest trees in search of grubs, some of the giants of the forest presenting 
quite a tattered appearance after several of the birds had searched from top to 
bottom, the bark hanging down for yards all round.” 
Mr Edwin Ashby’s notes continue : “ This bird is not at all uncommon 
throughout the more wild portions of the Adelaide Hills, as a rule only four 
or five in a flock, but on a few occasions I have seen as many as twenty-five 
in a ‘ mob.’ A few years ago large numbers were feeding on Honeysuckle 
(Banksia marginata) seeds right in the township of Normanville, S.A. I have 
also seen large numbers in the Cape Otway Ranges in Victoria. On killing 
one of a pair the mate stays about for a long time uttering the most heart- 
rending, wailing cries. In 1885 this bird was nesting, within eleven miles of 
the city of Adelaide, near Government House, Marble Hill. In March, 1905, 
this species was numerous at Western River, Kangaroo Island. In Tasmania 
I have often seen the bark of lofty Stringybark trees (Eucalyptus obliqua) 
stripped into shreds from top to bottom by these birds, in search of grubs, 
but I have never noticed them do the same in this colony. 
Mr. A. G. Campbell states : “ C. funereus nests in the most inaccessible 
parts of the Grampians, Victoria, arriving in October from the more open 
country to the north-west, and leaving again about March.” 
Mr. Frank S. Smith adds: “Very plentiful in the heavily-timbered 
country in the south-east of South Australia, and across the border into 
Victoria. Also in Victoria valley, north of Dunkeld, and the mallee north 
of Stawell. In these districts it feeds on the seeds of the honeysuckle trees 
and seeds from the flowers of the previous year, to which it is very partial. 
Three of my correspondents note this latter fact ; in view of the general 
statement that its chief food is grubs torn from the bark and rotten wood of 
trees, this is perhaps worth noting. I do not know the scientific name of the 
honeysuckle, but it is a dwarf tree, rarely more than 15 or 20 feet high, with 
a honey-yielding bottlebrush flower ” (? Banksia marginata). 
Mr. E. E. Howe has also written : “ At Pine Plains (Vic.) on the 19th 
September, 1907, in company with Messrs. J. A. Ross, A. Mattingley and 
C. McLennan, I saw a flock of upwards of 200 birds. It is said by some 
authorities that this bird does not feed on the ground, but here they were, 
the whole flock feeding on the Plain. I have also seen them feeding in the 
scrubs round Stawell. The call note is a very harsh and grating one, and 
sounds like “ Kee-ow ” when said in the throat. At Gembrook, Victoria, 
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