BANKS' RAVEN COCKATOO (_Calyptorhynchus Banksii_) attains the length of
a foot and a half. The plumage of the male is black, the only exception
being the tail, which is a brilliant black with a greenish sheen. The
female is greenish-black upon the head, spotted with yellow on the neck
and wings, and striped with light yellow upon the breast. The male has
a broad scarlet band extending along the middle of the tail, but not
reaching the two middle feathers or the outer edge of the side feathers.
The female has broad yellow and reddish-yellow spotted stripes similarly
disposed, both upon the outer and the under side of the tail-covers.
Banks' Raven Cockatoo belongs to New South Wales, and is principally
found in the district between Moreton Bay and Port Philip, though by
no means rare in the immediate neighbourhood of Sydney and other large
towns. Its flight is heavy; the wings are lax, and seem to move with
difficulty; it seldom rises high in the air, but will, nevertheless,
sometimes fly for a mile at a stretch; whilst on the wing it utters a
loud cry, which is less shrill than the harsh screech of the cockatoo.
When on the ground, these birds move with difficulty; upon the tops of
trees their motions are less deliberate, but always slow. Most of them
are shy and distrustful, owing no doubt to the manifold persecutions
from which they suffer, and it is only during feeding-time that they are
less upon the watch. They are much attached to their companions, and
should one of them be killed or wounded, the hapless individual is seldom
deserted by the others, who generally fly about him, uttering a wailing
cry, and expose themselves so recklessly to the hunter, that he, knowing
how to avail himself of this habit, often succeeds in capturing the whole
flock.