Psittacus galeritus, Lth.

Great Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Great White Cockatoo (Ger., Grosser gelbaubiger Kakadu, grosser Gelbhauben-Kahadu, grosser weisser Kakadu mit gelber Haube; Fr., Grand Cacatois a huppe jaune, Grand Cacatois blanc a huppe jaune, Cacatois a crete jaune; Dut., Reus Geelkuif Kakketoe of Groote Geelkuif Kalcketoe) - Description.

This handsome cockatoo was one of those birds collected on Cook's voyage, which were named and described by Latham in 1790. The old writers give no noteworthy particulars concerning it, yet it certainly had been imported alive in very early times. Like the above-mentioned bird, it is all white; the feathers of the forehead, front of the head, and the first feathers of crest, are pure white, the rest are long, sharply bent backwards, and then upwards; the finely cut feathers of the crest are sulphur-yellow; the spot on the cheek yellowish-white; the quills and tail feathers are yellow underneath; beak black; cere white; eyes black, dark-brown, or reddish-brown; a narrow white featherless circle round the eye; feet blackish-grey, with black scales and claws. (The plumage sometimes has a yellowish tone on the breast and under part of the body also, but, more rarely, a rose-coloured shade.) Size : fully that of a crow (length, 16 1/2in. to 17 1/2in.; wings, 12 3/4in. to 14 1/4in.; tail, 6 1/2in. to 6 3/4in.). It is a native of Australia - not towards the west - but extending throughout Tasmania. Concerning its life in freedom, the remarks which I have made in the Introduction about cockatoos apply to it. The cockatoos suffer from the same cruel method of pursuit as parrots generally; for this reason principally they become shy and mistrustful, though by nature they are harmless and affectionate birds.

The cockatoo under notice is one of the commonest objects of the bird market, yet it is not seen so frequently as the Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. With proper management (see Introduction, page 7) it is healthy and hardy, attains a great age in the cage, learns to dance, and do other tricks, but only speaks a few words, and can laugh like a human being. It is especially necessary to be careful in dealing with it, for many Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are extremely vicious; even those which otherwise behave well are inclined to bite strangers. Mr. Dulitz describes a hen which he possessed as pleasing, affectionate, and clever: "It outdoes any cat in stealing and pilfering dainties, and is exceedingly fond of all sorts of tricks and practical jokes, draws my wife's needles out of her knitting, etc. At first it only said its name, afterwards it learnt, 'Well, where is my Martha ?' but never anything more." As a distinction of sex, Mr. Dulitz can only mention with certainty that the male utters a dissyllabic and the female a monosyllabic cry, which latter sounds less harsh.