CACATUA SANGUINEA, Gouid. 
Blood-stained Cockatoo. 
Cacatua sanguinea, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 138. 
Tne circumstance of this species never having been characterized until I described it in the “ Proceedings 
of the Zoological Society,” above quoted, may doubtless be attributed to its being solely an inhabitant of 
the north and north-west coasts of Australia, portions of the country where few collections have been 
formed. With the exception of a specimen brought home by Captain Chambers, R.N., and another in the 
collection of Mr. Bankier, my own specimens are all that I have ever seen ; the whole of these were collected 
at Port Essington. 
The Blood-stamed Cockatoo mhabits swamps and wet grassy meadows, and is often to be seen in company 
with its near ally the Cacatua galerita, but I am informed it is even more shy and difficult of approach 
than that bird. It is doubtless attracted to the swampy districts by the various species of Orchidaceous 
plants that grow in such localities, upon the roots of which at some seasons it mainly subsists. 
But little difference occurs either in the size or the colouring of the sexes, and I have young birds, which, 
although a third less in size, closely assimilate in every respect to the adult, so much so that an examination 
of the bill, which during immaturity is soft and yielding to the touch, is necessary to distinguish them. 
I have never yet observed this species in collections from New Guinea; but I think it more than likely 
that its range may extend to that island, the fauna of which is at present so imperfectly known to us. 
All the plumage white; base of the feathers of the lores and sides of the face stained with patches of 
blood-red ; base of the imer webs of the primaries, secondaries and tail-feathers fine sulphur-yellow ; bill 
yellowish white ; feet mealy brown. 
The figures are those of a male and a female about the natural size. 
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