The Rose Cockatoo, as may be seen, is a remarkably handsome bird. The
species is gregarious, and they are very numerous in South Australia,
where they frequent woods and feed on seeds, fruits, and larvae of
insects. Their note is harsh and unmusical. The young ones tame readily
and some species show remarkable intelligence. They associate in flocks
of from one hundred to one thousand and do great damage to newly planted
grain, for which reason they are mercilessly destroyed by farmers. Two
eggs only, of a pure white color, are laid in the holes of decayed trees
or in the fissures of rocks, according to the nature of the locality in
which they live.
This is a rather large bird, equalling a common fowl in dimensions, and
assuming a much larger form when it ruffles up its feathers while under
the influence of anger. Many of these birds are fine talkers, and their
voice is peculiarly full and loud.
An authentic anecdote is told of a Cockatoo which was quite celebrated
for its powers of conversation; but as he was moulting at the time, his
voice was temporarily silenced, and he sat in a very disconsolate manner
on his perch, looking as if he had fallen into a puddle and not had time
to arrange his plumage. All the breast and fore-parts of the body were
quite bare of feathers and even the beautiful crest had a sodden and
woe-begone look. By dint, however, of talking to the bird and rubbing
his head, he was induced to say a few words, which were given in a
voice as full and rounded as that of a strong voiced man accustomed to
talking to deaf people. Presently the spectators were startled with a
deafening laugh, not unlike that of the hyena, but even louder and
more weird-like. On turning around, they saw the Cockatoo suddenly
transformed into a totally different bird, his whole frame literally
blazing with excitement, his crest flung forward to the fullest extent,
and repeatedly spread and closed like the fan of an angry Spanish lady,
every feather standing on end and his eyes sparkling with fury while he
volleyed forth the sounds which had so startled them. The cause of this
excitement was the presence of two children who had come to look at the
bird, and whom he recognized as having formerly excited his ire. He
always objected to children, and being naturally irritable from the
effect of moulting, his temper became uncontrollable.
The Cockatoo is not gifted with the wonderful imitating powers of the
true Parrot, and on account of its deafening cries is not an agreeable
inhabitant of the house. It is in a state of nature that the birds are
most interesting. They are not shy or wary, are very vociferous, and,
like the common Parrots, rise up in bodies toward sunset and fly
two-and-two to their resting places. It is a superb sight to see
thousands of these beautiful creatures flying overhead, low enough to
permit a full view of their feathered mantles.
[Illustration: From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences.
COCKATOO.
Copyrighted by
Nature Study Pub. Co., 1898, Chicago.]