BLACK COCKATOO. 
Mr. H. L. White’s notes read : “ Calyptorhynchus funereus is often seen 
in the high country, and it is a recognised sign of rain when they fly about 
in the open lower forest. Their well-known habit of stripping the bark from 
newly ring-barked trees, has been frequently observed here. One nest has 
only been noted (Scone, New South Wales). It was in an inaccessible 
position in a tall dead Stringybark tree ; the young left the nest early in 
January, previous to which they had been fed by the parent birds apparently 
late in the afternoon only.” 
Mr. James D. Cox wrote from the Blue Mountains, December 26th, 1895 : 
“An unknown incident happened, as far as my knowledge goes, in early 
spring this year. Flocks of hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of the Yellow- 
tailed Black Cockatoo ( Calyptorhynchus funereus) flew low down over the 
mountains, heading north. Occasionally, some of the flocks would alight 
for rest, and blacken the trees with their vast numbers, and their united cries 
made a deafening noise. Previously I had never seen more than about fifty 
or sixty in one flock. As you know, it has been a remarkably dry season.” 
Dr. Macgillivray reported : “ Calyptorhynchus funereus is found all over 
the Hamilton district ; a favourite food seems to be the green She oak cones, 
which are cut into bits by this bird for the seeds contained in them ; they 
also feed on the larvae of some insect found under the bark and in the soft 
decayed wood of dead wattle trees. They nest late in the year, usually 
about the last week in December, or early in January, and choose a hollow 
in a tall Red Gum for the purpose, and are often noticed frequenting the tree, 
and going in and out of the hollow, for a month before laying, the same place 
being often resorted to year after year if unmolested. Two eggs are usually 
laid and sometimes three, but rarely more than one young one reared. The 
young when hatched are covered with yellow down, and take a long time to 
become sufficiently feathered to leave the nest. The birds are in the habit 
of chipping off the bark round the mouth of the nesting hollow, which 
renders it rather conspicuous. When drinking they usually alight a yard 
or two from the water, and walk down to it, one being always left on guard.” 
Dr. Angove, writing from Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, states : 
“ Calyptorhynchus funereus visits us in most years, but in decreasing 
numbers. The birds come to the Honeysuckle when in pairs or in small 
flocks of three or four. This species nested yearly in Forest Range, at Fox’s 
Creek, very high in the largest of the Stringybark, but has not done so of 
late years to my knowledge.” 
Tasmanian notes are separately ranged as here given : “ From Penguin, 
Tasmania, Mr. R. N. Atkinson wrote : “ Calyptorhynchus xanthonotus occurs 
throughout Tasmania and some of the larger islands of Bass Strait. I have 
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