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THE LIVING WORLD. 
on grain chiefly, though some species, descend to the ground and dig up 
roots and bulbs, while yet others imitate the habits of woodpeckers, attacking 
decaying trees, tearing off the bark, and even biting out pieces of wood in their 
search for insects. There are thirty-five species classified and named by natural¬ 
ists, nearly all of which produce similar notes, resembling a phonetic pronunci¬ 
ation of the word cock-a-too , from whence the name is derived. 
The Pink Cockatoo (. Plictolophus leadbeateri ) was the first specimen of the 
genera brought to Europe, which was purchased by Mr. Leadbeater, an English 
naturalist, after whom the species was named. The color is a pure white, suf¬ 
fused with pink, while the crest is barred with crimson, yellow and white. 
The Kea ( Nestor notabilis ) is confined entirely to Philipp Island, which is only 
five miles in extent. It is remarkable for the astonishing length of the upper 
bill, projecting, as it does, some two inches beyond the lower mandible. On this 
account it is sometimes called the Long-billed Parrot. It subsists largely from 
the honey it extracts from blossoms of the hibiscus, to obtain which its tongue 
is furnished with a long, narrow, horny 
scoop at the under side of the extremity, 
up which the sweet juices are sucked. 
But it is also known to dig in the earth 
for tender bulbs, for which purpose the 
very long upper mandible is well adapted. 
The color is brown and gray, with occa¬ 
sional flecks of red and yellow. This 
bird is supposed to be the connecting 
link between parrot and cockatoo. 
The Banksian Cockatoo ( Calypto - 
rhynchus) is an Australian bird of con¬ 
siderable size and brown color, sometimes 
dyed with richest hues of red and yel¬ 
low. The name Baziksian has been given 
to it on account of the seeds of the banksia 
being its chief subsistence, though it is 
also fond of insects, which it digs out of 
decaying trees. 
(Cacatua galerita ) is a very beautiful and 
kindly disposed bird, and a species most commonly seen in aviaries. It is a pure 
white with tints of pale red, and the head is surmounted by a long crest that 
when erected looks like young onion stalks. It yields readily, to kind treatment, 
and may be easily taught to perform many amusing tricks. 
The Great White Cockatoo ( Cacatua crzstatus) is also a very handsome 
bird, almost equal in size to a guinea-hen, and is strikingly intelligent. It learns 
quickly and talks almost as well as the green parrot. But it becomes excited 
on small provocation and displays the greatest violence, both by a shocking noise 
and fierce attacks. The plumage of this species is white, with very slight rose 
tinge, and the crest is also white. 
The Great Black Cockatoo (Mzcroglossus aterimum) is a native of New 
Guinea, and the largest of the genera. It differs from others of the family in 
having the bill toothed and the tongue long, tubular and extensible. This forma¬ 
tion of tongue would seem to place it among the honey-suckers, but its habits 
THE PINK COCKATOO. 
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 
