Plectolophus, Vgrs.

The True Cockatoos are distinguished as follows : The beak strong, slightly arched; the upper mandible deeply hollowed out, and the point strongly bent inwards - a broad, somewhat round ridge, and occasionally faint longitudinal furrows; the lower beak is mostly somewhat deeper, with an upward curved socket edge, the sharp edges straight, and at the end sharply bent upwards; the socket has a circular indentation; the nostrils are small, round, open in the narrow cere, often set with short feathers; the tongue is thick, fleshy, with a broad, blunt, rounded end; the eyes prominent, very round, and expressive; bare circle round the eye white; lores feathered; the wings are long and pointed; the tail, medium length, broad, straight, or slightly rounded towards the outside, and sometimes towards the inside. The plumage is as soft as silk, each feather having a rounded tip, in rare cases with powdery down; a crest formed by the long feathers of the forehead and top of the head, variously shaped, and when the bird is roused by excitement capable of being erected or spread out like a fan; feet strong and large, with powerful hook-shaped claws. The prevailing tone is white, with variegated markings; the figure compact, about the size of a jackdaw or crow.

Two of the species are distinguished by their very long upper beak, and are called Long-billed or Nasecus Cockatoos [Licmetis, Wgl.]. This species is found in Indo-Australia.

The birds are imported in numbers alive, and being more or less valued as cage birds, they form an important article of commerce. It has not yet been determined whether they possess more talent than other parrots for speech. Their natural voice is, however, shrill and piercing.