THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
or scrubby and arid country situated between the Lachlan and Darling 
Rivers, where it is extremely numerous in some localities, but generally it is 
met with in small flocks of eight or ten individuals. Its food consists of 
various kinds of seeds, some obtained from trees and others from small 
herbaceous plants ; it also feasts upon the seeds of a small species of wild 
melon, which grows in large quantities throughout this part of the country. 
When its hunger is appeased it has a habit of cutting off the smaller branches 
of the trees or shrubs in which it may be resting. It also tears off the bark of 
the larger branches, or the trunks of trees, until the ground beneath is strewed 
with small branches, leaves and fragments of bark. This destruction is 
particularly noticeable in the vicinity of the trees in which they may 
be breeding, and I have frequently seen an old male engaged for hours at this 
pastime in the tree where his mate was engaged in the duties of incubation.” 
Mr. Robert Grant’s notes read : “ I found Cacatua leadbeateri in scattered 
pairs in the more thickly timbered parts of the bush around Byrock, Glenariff, 
and Bourke. In the morning they congregated in small flocks of about eight 
or nine in number, and went to the tanks to drink, and on one occasion 1 
secured five specimens at one shot. I have cut down trees for their nests, 
and found one inside a hollow limb of the tree about four feet down from the 
entrance ; this nest contained two fledgelings. One peculiar thing I noticed 
underneath the nest, which was constructed of decayed wood and leaves, was 
a layer of smooth waterworn pebbles, about four or five inches in depth. 
Another tree I felled contained two white eggs, both of which were broken ; 
this nesting place also had a layer of broken pebbles four or five inches in depth. 
I think the reason of these pebbles being placed there is to keep the eggs dry, 
when the rain runs down inside the limb, and that they retain the natural heat 
of the parent bird. Usually these birds fly together to drink in pairs, for 
mutual protection against birds of prey, which are numerous in these districts.” 
Dr. Macgillivray’s report states : “ Cacatua leadbeateri is not found on the 
Barrier Range, but is common on Scrope’s Range, between Broken Hill and 
the river to the north-east, and in various places both south and north of 
Broken Hill ; it is not so widely dispersed as either C. sanguinea or C. rosei- 
capilla. During September, 1908, 1 found these Cockatoos nesting on Cox Flats, 
of the Mulga scrub country, and on the creeks which run through it. They 
usually choose a large roomy hollow, and lay three or four eggs on a bed of 
decayed wood material, the eggs being usually at a depth of two or three feet. 
When incubating they come to water morning and evening, and take it in turns 
to do so, often flying three or four miles to drink ; they fly slowly, and one 
bird often comes to water nearly an hour after the other. A pair of birds will 
occupy the same hollow year after year. On the nesting- tree being approached, 
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