The CASMALOS (_Microglossus aterrimus_), the best known of these species,
is an inhabitant of New Guinea, and is one of the largest of the parrot
tribe, even exceeding most of the Araras in this respect. Its plumage is
uniformly deep black, with somewhat of a greenish gloss; the living bird
has a greyish appearance, owing to a white meal-like dust, which, as in
most other parrots, is scattered over its plumage; the naked wrinkled
cheeks are of a red colour. The crest is formed by a number of long
slender isolated feathers, and is of a lighter grey than the rest of the
plumage.
[Illustration: THE CASMALOS (_Microglossus aterrimus_).]
Little is known of these birds in their natural state. "The Large-beaked
Parrot," says von Rosenberg, "is not rare in the islands of Waigui,
Misool, and Salawatti, and is found on the coast of New Guinea. It
usually perches at the very top of the highest trees, keeping its body
constantly in motion, and whilst resting, or when by powerful strokes of
its wings it raises itself into the air, it utters a trumpet-like note
quite different from that produced by the White Cockatoo. The natives
take the young birds from the nest, and, when they have reared them,
sell them to traders. In captivity they seem to prefer the fruit of the
canary tree, the hard shell of which they manage to crack with the utmost
facility. One of these so-called Cockatoos, belonging to a resident in
Amboyna, was in the habit of flying about all over the town, but always
returned home at the proper time to take its meals and to sleep." Von
Marten saw a tame parrot of this kind at Mahai. "The Black Cockatoo,"
he observes, "when perched stiffly with its tail erect, red face, and
powerful beak, has the air of an old general, and, owing to its extreme
ugliness, makes a forcible impression on all who see it. It is quiet and
slow in its movements, but allows strangers to approach, and utters from
time to time a disagreeable, harsh, guttural shriek."
[Illustration: THE RAVEN COCKATOO (_Calyptorhynchus Banksii_).]
According to Rosenberg, the Large-beaked Parrot is often seen at Amboyna,
where it may be bought for about twenty or twenty-five shillings: in
Europe these remarkable birds are amongst the greatest curiosities in our
collections. Unlike all other parrots with which we are acquainted, the
Casmalos uses its peculiarly-formed tongue in a strange manner; taking
its food with its foot, it carries the morsel to its beak, tears it
up, and presses the end of the tongue, which is provided with a round
horn-like plate, upon the pieces, which stick to it; the tongue is then
drawn in, and the food swallowed; this being a very slow process, the
meal usually occupies a considerable time.
* * * * *
The RAVEN COCKATOOS (_Calyptorhynchus_) differ very materially from all
other species not only in the colour of the feathers, but in their form.
The beak is short, crescent-shaped, and sloping, owing to the great
breadth of the lower jaw; the wings are large and broad, reaching only
over the first third of the long, strong, and rounded tail; the crest is
comparatively small.
The Raven Cockatoos, or Geringeroes, are found exclusively in New
Holland, and there only in certain districts. Gould, the great explorer
of Australian ornithology, mentions six species in his masterly work, and
gives a tolerably full account of their mode of life; there is, however,
great similarity between them, and the following observations may be
considered as applicable to all.
The Raven Cockatoos are truly _tree_-birds, feeding principally upon the
seeds of the Eucalypti, and other trees indigenous to the country, but,
unlike other parrots, they will occasionally eat large caterpillars.
Another peculiarity is that they only congregate in small parties
consisting of not more than from four to eight individuals, and never
assemble in considerable flocks. Each part of Van Dieman's Land has its
peculiar species.
The manner in which the Raven Cockatoos feed is also very peculiar. Some
species break off the little twigs of the fruit trees while eating,
apparently out of mischief; and all use their sharp beaks to draw the
concealed living insects--principally larvæ--out of the wood. The large
caterpillars which they obtain from the gum-trees do not always satisfy
their hunger; they wage war upon the grubs that lurk deep in the wood,
dextrously stripping off the bark and picking large holes in the branches
until they reach their prey. Some species prefer insects to any other
kind of nourishment, whilst others subsist upon seeds, principally those
of the Casuarinæ and Banksias. Fruit they seem to despise, although they
destroy much out of pure mischief, plucking it before it is ripe, to the
great annoyance of the owners.
So far as we know, the Geringeroes breed exclusively in the holes of
trees, always choosing the highest and most unapproachable trunks, and
invariably such as the natives cannot climb. They prepare no regular
nest in the holes which they select, or at most only collect chips of
wood from the ground, wherewith to line the interior. They lay from two
to five tolerably large eggs, 1 2/3 inch in length and 1 1/3 inch broad.
Besides the attacks made upon them by man, the Raven Cockatoos often
become victims to birds and beasts of prey. Europeans do not prize their
flesh very highly, but by the natives it is esteemed a delicacy.