Psittacus Moluccensis, LINNÆUS; Kakatoes à huppe rouge,
BUFFON; Der rothäubige Kakatu, BECHSTEIN.
This species is a little larger than the common cockatoo, its size being
almost equal to that of the red and blue maccaw. Its beak is bluish
black, the membrane black, the circle of the eyes pearl grey, and the
iris deep red. The feet are lead colour, the nails black. White, tinged
with pale rose-red, is the prevailing colour; the tuft, which falls back
on the head, is very large, most of the feathers being six inches in
length; of which the under side is of a beautiful orange. In the side
tail feathers, from the base to the centre of the interior beard, the
colour is primrose-yellow; the under part of the pen-feathers has a tint
of the same.
OBSERVATIONS.--This beautiful bird has a noble air; and, though often
tamed, it is rarely so caressing as the common cockatoo; its cry,
like that of the other species, is its own name; it also cries
"_tertingue_" very loud, and like a trumpet, and imitates the voice
of several animals, particularly the cackling of fowls and the
crowing of cocks. When it cries it flaps its wings.
Though a native of the Moluccas, it is neither delicate nor difficult
to rear.