_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
CALYPTORHYNCHUS FUNEREUS.
Funereal Cockatoo.
_Psittacus funereus_, Shaw, Nat. Misc., pl. 186.—Kuhl, Consp. Psitt.
in. Nova Acta, etc., vol. x. p. 89.—Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., vol. i.
p. xxii.
_Funereal Cockatoo_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 202.
_Banksian Cockatoo_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl., vol. i. p. 91. C.—Shaw,
Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 477.
_Calyptorhynchus funereus_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv.
p. 271.
_Plyctolophus funeralis_, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 302.
_Wy-la_, Aborigines of the Upper Hunter in New South Wales.
Although not the most powerful in its mandibles, the present bird is the
largest species of the genus to which it belongs, its large wings and
expansive tail being unequalled by those of any other member of the
great family of _Psittacidæ_ yet discovered. The true habitat of the
_Calyptorhynchus funereus_ is New South Wales, or that portion of the
Australian continent forming its south-eastern division. Among other
places, I observed it in the neighbourhood of Sydney, at Bong-bong, on
Mosquito Island near the mouth of the River Hunter, and on the Liverpool
range; and it may be said to be universally distributed over this part
of the continent. The thick brushes clothing the mountain sides and
bordering the coast-line, the trees of the plains and the more open
country are equally frequented by it; at the same time it is nowhere
very numerous, but is usually met with associated in small companies of
from four to eight in number, except during the breeding season, when it
is only to be seen in pairs. Its food is much varied; sometimes the
great belts of Banksias are visited, and the seed-covers torn open for
the sake of their contents; while at others it searches with avidity for
the larvæ of the large caterpillars which are deposited in the wattles
and gums. Its flight, as might be expected, is very heavy, flapping and
laboured, but it sometimes dives about between the trees in a most rapid
and extraordinary manner.
When busily engaged in scooping off the bark in search of its insect
food, it may be approached very closely; and if one be shot, the
remainder of the company will fly round for a short distance and perch
on the neighbouring trees, until the whole are brought down, if you are
desirous of so doing.
Its note is very singular,—a kind of whining call, which it is
impossible to describe, but which somewhat resembles the syllables
_Wy-la_, whence the native name.
The eggs, which are white and two in number, about one inch and
five-eighths long by one inch and three-eighths broad, are deposited on
the rotten wood in the hollow branch of a large gum.
Caley mentions that this bird has a habit of cutting off the smaller
branches of the apple-trees (_Anophoræ_), apparently from no other than
a mischievous motive.