_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
CALLOCEPHALON GALEATUM.
Gang-gang Cockatoo.
_Psittacus galeatus_, Lath. Ind. Orn., Supp. p. xxiii.—Kuhl, Consp.
Psitt, in Nova Acta, tom. x. p. 88.
_Red-crowned Parrot_, Lath. Gen. Syn., Supp. vol. ii. p. 369. pl.
140.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 523.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii.
p. 218. pl. xxviii.
_Calyptorhynchus galeatus_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv.
p. 274.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. ii. p. 144.
_Corydon galeatus_, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., vol. i. pp. 504 and
690.
_Plyctolophus galeatus_, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 302.
_Banksianus galeatus_, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 181.
_Callocephalon Australe_, Less.
_Callocephalon galeatum_, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd
edit., p. 68.
_Cacatua galeata_, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xvii. p.
12.—Ency. Méth., tom. iii. p. 1414.
_Psittacus phœnicocephalus_, Mus. de Paris.
_Gang-gang Cockatoo_, Colonists of New South Wales.
The only information I can give respecting this fine species is that it
is a native of the forests bordering the south coast of Australia, some
of the larger islands in Bass’s Straits, and the northern parts of Van
Diemen’s Land, and that it frequents the most lofty trees and feeds on
the seeds of the various _Eucalypti_. A few instances have occurred of
its being brought to England alive, where it has borne captivity quite
as well as the other members of the great family to which it belongs;
thus affording sufficient evidence that the Black Cockatoos
(_Calyptorhynchi_) would thrive equally well were the experiment made,
the form and habits of the two birds being very similar.
The paucity of the account here given will I trust be a sufficient hint
to those who may be favourably situated for observing the habits of this
species, that by transmitting their observations either to myself or to
any scientific journal, they would be promoting the cause of science,
and adding to the stock of human knowledge.
The sexes are readily distinguished by the marked difference in their
plumage; both are crested, but the crest of the male is a rich scarlet,
while that of the female is grey.
The male has the forehead, crest and cheeks fine scarlet, the remainder
of the plumage dark slate-grey; all the feathers, with the exception of
the primaries, secondaries and tail, narrowly margined with greyish
white—decided and distinct on the upper, but much fainter on the under
surface; irides blackish brown; bill light horn-colour; feet mealy
black.
The general plumage of the female is dark slate-colour, the feathers of
the back of the neck and back slightly margined with pale grey, the
remainder of the upper surface crossed with irregular bars of greyish
white; the wings have also a sulphurous hue, as if powdered with
sulphur; the feathers of the under surface are margined with
sulphur-yellow and dull red, changing into dull yellow on the under
tail-coverts.
The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size.
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