Psittacus cristatus, LINNÆUS; Kakatoes à huppe blanche,
BUFFON; Der gemeine Kakatu, BECHSTEIN.
The size of this bird is that of a barn-door fowl, and its length
seventeen inches. The beak is blackish, and the membrane at the base
black; the iris is dark brown, the circle of the eye white. The whole of
the plumage is white except the large quill-feathers and the exterior
feathers of the tail, the inner beards of which are primrose-yellow to
the centre. The tuft, which the bird raises and sinks at will, is five
inches in length.
OBSERVATIONS.--At present, this species is only found in the Moluccas.
The general custom in Germany is to give it a spacious cage in the
form of a bell, from the top of which is hung a large metal ring, in
which it likes to perch.
The food of the cockatoo is the same as that of the other large
species of the same family; however, it appears to be very fond of
vegetables, farinaceous grains, and pastry. For its qualities, I
cannot do better than quote Buffon:
"Cockatoos," says he, "which may be known by their tuft, are not
easily taught to speak; there is one species which does not speak at
all; but this is in some measure compensated for by the great
facility with which they are tamed; in some parts of India they are
even so far domesticated that they will build their nests on the
roofs of the houses: this facility of education is owing to their
intelligence, which is very superior to that of other parrots. They
listen, understand, and obey; but it is in vain that they make the
same efforts to repeat what is said to them: they seem to wish to
make up for it by other expressions of feeling and by affectionate
caresses. There is a mildness and grace in all their movements, which
greatly adds to their beauty. In March, 1775, there were two, a male
and female, at the fair of St. Germain, in Paris, which obeyed with
great docility the orders given them, either to spread out their
tuft, or salute people with a bend of the head, or to touch different
objects with their beak and tongue, or to reply to questions from
their master with a mark of assent which clearly expressed a silent
_yes_: they also showed by repeated signs the number of persons in
the room, the hour of day, the colour of clothes, &c.; they kissed
one another by touching their beaks, and even caressed each other;
this showed a wish to pair, and the master affirms that they often do
so even in our climates. Though the cockatoos, like other parrots,
use their bill in ascending and descending, yet they have not their
heavy disagreeable step; on the contrary, they are very active, and
hop about very nimbly."