IOO 
PARROTS. 
The cockatoos are readily 
distinguished by the presence of 
a crest of feathers on the head, 
which is wanting in all the mem¬ 
bers of the next family, with 
the exception of the peculiar 
horned and Uvsean parraquets 
( Nymphicus ), respectively from 
New Caledonia and the island 
of Uvgea in the Loyalty Group 
An absolutely distinctive feature 
between the two families is, how¬ 
ever, to be found in the skull. 
Thus in all the cockatoos the 
socket of the eye is surrounded 
by a complete ring of bone, from 
the lower border of which is 
given off a process extending 
backwards to the hinder part of 
the skull; whereas in the true 
parrots (Psittacidce) this ring is 
generally incomplete, while in 
such instances as it is entire, it 
lacks the posterior bony process. 
As minor characters, it may be 
mentioned that the nostrils open 
in a cere which is not much 
swollen, and is generally naked, 
although occasionally feathered. The bill is of great depth, and usually very 
short, the upper mandible being generally much compressed, with its hook at right 
angles to the axis of the base. In all cases the metatarsus is extremely short. 
The cockatoos are characteristic of the whole Australasian region, ranging 
as far west as the islands of Celebes and Lombok, and also represented in 
the Philippines; eastwards, however, their range is limited by the Solomon 
Islands, and they are consequently unknown in New Zealand. With the exception 
of the aberrant cockatiel ( Callopsittacus ) of Australia, which constitutes a separate 
subfamily, the whole of the members of the family are characterised by their 
short and broad tails. Their coloration differs markedly from that of the other 
groups of the order. In the majority of the species white is the predominant 
colour, but this may be more or less tinged with red or yellow, more especially 
in the crest and on the under surface of the tail. In the rose-breasted cockatoo 
the whole breast is, however, red, while the upper surface of the body, together 
with the wings and tail, are various shades of grey, while the ganga is all grey 
with the exception of the red head. In other species the prevalent tint is black 
or dark blackish brown. All lack the green, so characteristic of the parrots in 
COCKATOOS. 
general, although a tinge of this colour exists on the wings of the ganga. 
