COCKATOOS. 
107 
which curve forwards. One of the best known representatives of this group is 
the greater sulphur-crested cockatoo ( Cacatua galerita ) from Australia, in which 
the feathers of the body are pure white, the cere naked, the crest sulphur-yellow, 
and the naked skin round the eyes white. This is one of the largest species, 
measuring from 18 to 20 inches in total length. In the much smaller lesser 
sulphur-crested cockatoo, in which the length does not exceed 13 inches, the body- 
feathers are slightly tinged with yellow, while there is also a patch of yellow on 
the ear-coverts, in addition to that on the crest; this species inhabiting Celebes 
and some of the neighbouring islands. From both of these the citron-crested 
cockatoo (C. citrino-cristatus), from the island of Timor-Laut, is readily distin¬ 
guished by the orange-yellow of the crest, 
is, however, the beautiful Leadbeater’s 
cockatoo ( C. lecidbeateri ) of South Aus¬ 
tralia, in which the crest is vermilion at 
the base, with a yellow band traversing 
this coloured area; while the tips of the 
feathers are white. The cere is also 
feathered. While the plumage of most of 
the upper-parts is white, the sides of the 
head, neck, together with the breast, under¬ 
parts, and tail-coverts, are tinged with a 
pale rose-colour, being very bright under 
the wings. In size this species comes 
next to the greater sulphur-crest, its total 
length being about 16 inches. 
In the second great group the feathers 
of the crest, as shown in our figure of the 
head of Ducorps’ cockatoo ( C. ducorpis ) of 
the Solomon Islands, are broad with 
rounded tips, which do not curve for¬ 
wards. In the larger forms, which 
correspond in size to the greater sulphur-crested species, the feathers of the crest 
are very long, and the cere is naked. One of the best known forms is the great 
white-crested cockatoo (C. alba), from the Halmahera Group of the Moluccas, in 
which the whole plumage is white. Readily distinguished by its vermilion crest 
the rose-crested cockatoo (C. moluccensis), which appears to be confined to the 
islands of Ceram and Amboyna, is represented in the figure on the next page. 
The remaining species are smaller, and have the cere feathered. Most of them 
have the under surface of the body white; but the red-breasted cockatoo ( C. 
roseicapilla ) differs from all the other members of the genus in having the whole 
of the under surface of the body of a brilliant full rose-colour, and the upper-parts 
grey, the crown of the head being pale rosy white. It is widely distributed in 
Australia, and measures 14 inches in total length. The blood-stained cockatoo (C. 
sanguinea) is from North Australia. 
All the cockatoos of this group are gregarious, some of the 
species, like the greater sulphur-crest, associating in immense flocks ; 
Far more gorgeous than all the others 
HEAD OF BLOOD-STAINED COCKATOO. 
(From Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1871.) 
Habits. 
