5 Great Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Cockatoos, 
are found they aCt with the caution displayed by some other birds, sentinels being always placed on the 
tops of surrounding trees to note the approach of danger and give out the warning cry to the bulk of 
the flock. The main army may encamp on one tree, but their small detachments mount guard on 
other trees, and form a circle of watchful sentries round the grand central encampment. 
Canke, as the tribes of the Lower Murray call this bird, forms for them a favorite dish. With 
snake-like noiselessness, the black hunter may be seen stealthily approaching the feeding-ground or the 
tree where the bulk of the flock are to be found; having eluded the observation of the sentinels till 
within a convenient distance, he suddenly appears. The warning cry of danger is uttered to apprise 
the flock; but with swifter flight than theirs, the wildly-flying boomerang rushes through their midst. 
In vain they try to elude its eccentric movements; like a thing of sentient life, now here, now there, it 
strikes, till one or more lie disabled on the ground. The piercing cries of these stay the flock from 
seeking safety in defeated flight. Round and round their wounded comrades, uttering answering cries, 
they vainly fly; while ever and anon, as they come within distance, out is hurled, by well-praCtised arm, the 
unerring boomerang, till a goodly heap of slain reward the hunters skill, and the diminished flock, with 
angry notes at last retire. Nor is the native alone in his appreciation of this dainty dish. Cockatoo 
soup is a pottage by no means to be despised, and cockatoo pie, when made of young birds, will compare 
favorably with the famous rook pie of the fatherland. 
No birds are more playful than these, whether wild or domesticated. It would be quite impossible to 
attempt to describe their various tricks and antics, as they put themselves into a hundred different 
attitudes. I have noticed a strange habit in their flight. When circling round a tree before alighting, 
they will occasionally tumble over very much like a Tumbler Pigeon, only rather sideways than 
direCtly head over heels. Their motion on the ground is, to say the least of it, very awkward. The faCt 
is that they walk, not merely on their feet and toes, but also on their short tarsi; their walk is there¬ 
fore a decided waddle. They will, however, sometimes get over the ground more quickly by a series 
of jumps. Their harsh screams are uttered with increased vigor tpwards sunset. On a summers 
evening, as the bright orb of day goes down in splendour, flooding earth and sky with its golden 
light, either as “good night” to one another, or welcome to coming night, or anger at departing 
day, thousands will set up their wild unearthly screeches. 
Cockatoos are very easily tamed, and seem to possess some degree of affe&ion. They delight to 
sit on the back of ones chair, or on the shoulder, and will climb up a lady’s dress and nestle in her 
neck and bosom, and with their strong beaks take a gentle kiss. At the same time they may be 
credited as about as mischievous as birds can be. One that we once possessed, and that now sits 
quiet and stately on the mantelpiece, had a completely insatiable desire to split up cedar pencils, and 
such like, into smallest shreds, and an invincible dislike to wainscoat boards, evinced in a like way. 
While another determinately tears off beads whenever seen—from slippers, cushions, or dresses. 
They soon and easily learn to talk and repeat moderately long sentences ; while the way in which 
they sometimes imitate the barking of dogs, the cackling of hens, and the calls of other 
poultry, is so exaCt, that it is quite impossible to distinguish the real from the simulated cry. I have 
also known them to be taught tricks. One now in Ballarat will, at the word of command, hold a 
knife like a drawn sword, take up a wine-glass in his foot, and bring to the owner, when bidden, any 
article thrown on the table. They seem to experience as much satisfaction at having the feathers about 
their heads ruffled up, and the loose skin from which the crest springs scratched, as a cat does 
when it is pleasantly stroked; indeed, however excited or angry a bird may be, it is easy in this 
way to soothe it completely. Their skin, like those of others of the family, is covered with an 
epidermic production of a white farinaceous-like powder, and when handling them, especially in 
the spring-time, one gets quite covered with the flour-like dust. 
