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82 AUSTRALIAN ZOOLOGY, 
Prehistoric existence.—Although this animal is now found in 
Tasmania only, there is proof that aie ago it existed in Australia, 
since fossil remains of a species nearly allied to it have been found 
on the mainland. These remains were discovered in the caves of 
Wellington Valley. Professor McCoy found some fossil bones of a 
similar species near Dunolly in Victoria, thus proving that the 
Sarcophilus ursinus at one time existed on the mainland. The 
number of teeth belonging to* these creatures collected at the 
Wellington caves, amounts to several hundreds, other remains 
(skulls and jaws) are as plentiful, and many of their owners must 
have died ata ripe old age, because their canine teeth are often found 
worn level with the rest of the series. It has been conjectured that 
the early denizens of the continent were extirpated by the dingoes 
—foes which were not encountered in the island home. 


Crestep Cockatroo—Cacatua galerita. 
Introduction.—It is also known as the great sulphur-crested 
cockatoo. As may be readily imagined, the cockatoo is not upon 
favourable terms with the agriculturalist, upon whose fields of newly- 
sown grain, also ripening wheat and maize it commits great devasta- 
tion. It is constantly hunted and shot down wherever it appears, a 
circumstance which tends much to lessen its numbers ; it is still, 
however, very numerous. These birds move about in large flocks, 
Sir Thomas Mitchell, in describing a district which he explored, 
writes that ‘‘ amidst the umbrageous foliage, forming dense masses 
of shade, the white cockatoos sported like spirits of light.” 
Description.—All the plumage is white, with the exception of 
the elongated occipital crest, which is deep sulphur-yellow. The 
ear-coverts, the centre of the under surface of the wings, and the 
basal portion of the inner webs of the tail-feathers are pale sulphur- 
yellow. The irides and the bill are black; the orbits are white, 
and the feet greyish brown. The bill is curved and very powerful ; 
the claws are sharp and strong. The upper mandible of the Tas- 
manian_ bird is somewhat lengthened and not so rounded ; this fits 
the bird for searching in the ground for small bulbs. Its size and 
form are well known to all Australians and those who have visited 
this continent. 
Habits.—It is a gregarious bird. Kxcept when feeding, or 
reposing on the trees after a repast, the presence of a flock, if not 
seen, is certain to be indicated by their horrid screaming notes, the 
discordance of which may be slightly conceived by those who have 
heard the peculiarly loud, piercing, grating scream of the bird in 
captivity, and imagine the immense increase of the din occasioned 
by a large number of birds emitting their disagreeable notes at the 
same moment, Their snowy forms and sprightly actions impart life 
to the dense and never-varying green of the Australian forest. It 
is a climbing bird. When a flock alights in a wheat field or among 
a crop of maize, a few birds remain in the tops of the nearest trees ; 
if any intruder approaches, these sentinels raise the alarm by their 
