IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 
133 
In some countries the curious spoon is considered valuable. 
It is taken off, scraped thin and polished, and set in silver, and 
used as a spoon. 
While we are looking at curious bills, here is another, the 
Cockatoo. 
He is a native of Australia, and has the honor of naming 
himself. His cry sounds like cock-a-too. He belongs to the 
parrot family, and can be taught to talk, though not very well. His 
bill, you see, is a short crooked object with a sharp cutting edge. 
There are several kinds of Cockatoos ; that in the picture is 
the Sulphur Crested, and is common in Australia. It is dressed 
in white, with a bright yellow crest. The bills of these pretty birds 
are so hard that they delight in biting with them, breaking nuts 
and such things, and they are very useful in climbing about. 
The fan-like crest which he wears, is his great beauty. He 
can raise it or lower it as he pleases, and it makes a great change 
in his appearance. The White Cockatoo, and also the Sulphur 
Crested, is greatly prized as a pet. He can be taught to say a 
good many words, after the manner of parrots, and he is very 
amusing to watch, for he expects admiration, and shows it very 
plainly. 
