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Cockatoo. 
Psittaaus roseicapillus, Russ. 
Synonyms ; Cacatua roseicapilla, PUctolophus roseicapilhts, 
Polophiis roseus, etc. German : Per rosenrotJie Kakadu. 
T his handsome bnt common bird is a native of the greater part 
of the Australian continent, and is, perhaps, one of the best known 
of its species in this country, where it has been imported in considerable 
numbers for many years past: the London Zoological Society having 
added an example to their collection as far back as the year 1843. 
With the exception of the Leadbeater it is, unquestionably, the most 
beautiful member of the sub-family of the Cockatoos, and it is much 
to be regretted that it has few qualifications, beyond its delicate lavender 
grey coat, its rosy-red waistcoat, and its white head-dress just tinged 
with pink, to recommend it to tho notice of amateurs. 
The Cockatoos, as a rule, are not gifted with sweet voices, quite the 
contrary : but for an ear-piercing shriek, enough, after a few repetitions, 
to drive a sensitive person almost crazy, commend us to the Rosy 
Cockatoo. 
Our experience of these birds has not been felicitous; but we are, 
nevertheless, unwilling to condemn the whole race for the shortcomings 
of a few individuals, and very possibly, nay very probably, or they 
would not command the ready sale they do, we have been unfortunate 
with our Rosy Cockatoos; still wo must speak of them as we have 
found them, and with us they have not proved themselves teachable, 
or endearing in any way: one or two short words might be learned, 
but as to speaking, they never accomplished it; some of them have 
no doubt been tamed, but ours utterly repudiated the notion of recon- 
ciliation with their natural enemy man, and remained the most utter 
savages to the very last. 
Mr. Wiener has also found this bird “stupid and uninteresting”, 
and thinks its “screeching propensities will be less if kept in pairs”; 
