Dr. Lazarus, on the other hand, does not speak very favourably of cockatoos, for he writes : "An amateur who for any length of time has had an opportunity of keeping and becoming acquainted with the veritable talking birds - i. e., Amazons and Grey Parrots - will find some difficulty in maintaining his preference for Cockatoos. Every bird of the last named family must in the end become wearisome, owing to its want of speaking powers; whereas the larger species, the Red-crested and Lead beater's Cockatoo, which certainly display an interesting and attractive manner, render themselves altogether unbearable in a room by their ear-piercing cries, which very few of them ever entirely leave off. In spite of many who speak enthusiastically of Cockatoos as cage birds, I on this account emphatically recommend that they should be kept only in large parks or spacious courts, or at least in anterooms, where they cannot greatly annoy either their owners or the neighbourhood by their screaming. I am convinced that by far the greater number of amateurs who have had the opportunity of being acquainted with the habits of Cockatoos would agree in my opinion."

Mr. A. E. Brehm, however, speaking of the highly gifted intellect of the Cockatoo, says that it can put several words together so as to make sense, and apply whole sentences to suitable occasions; and that it is impossible not to recognise in it a high degree of understanding.

From other descriptions, especially those of Mr. Fiedler, University bookseller, of Agram, and Mr. A. E. Blaauw, of Amsterdam, as well as from my own experience, I find that the Cockatoo is certainly much more highly gifted than many other parrots, but, as regards speaking, assuredly not in the same degree as the Grey Parrot, and the more notable speakers among the Amazons. There are Cockatoos which learn to speak single words, or even sentences, very well; but they do not even approach the readiness and extent of knowledge of words possessed by the former.

Apart from its beauty, which is greatly enhanced when, in unwonted excitement, the bird erects its variegated crest, as well as some of the feathers on the body, a healthy Cockatoo which feels itself contented and comfortable is one of the merriest birds imaginable. Its liveliness and pleasing ways, and, still more, its comical behaviour, surpass description. Nodding and bowing in the drollest manner, lifting its variegated feathers in changeful play, it gambols, tumbles, and climbs with amusing vivacity, imitating other birds, not only in their movements, but in the words they have learnt, and, above all, in their cries. Mr. A. E. Blaauw states, however, that his experience leads him to think that when several Cockatoos are kept together they scream less frequently: "These gregarious birds like to see each other, they exchange bows and erect their crests; in short, they find life less tedious, and tediousness is the chief cause of the screams of a cockatoo." With affectionate treatment, contrary to other parrots, the Cockatoo soon becomes surprisingly tame and gentle. But there are some not only wild and uncontrollable, but even extremely vicious. A Cockatoo, for example, which is always gentle to its master may, however, bite strangers; indeed, it has been found that a bird, hitherto good and affectionate, has all at once, without apparent reason, become wicked and furious. In such cases its bites may be extremely dangerous. Besides, there are instances in which Cockatoos show a remarkable memory for injuries received; they have borne in mind for years an act of punishment or teasing, and have revenged themselves at a favourable opportunity.

The comparatively small number of Cockatoos which were formerly imported alive into Europe were taken from the nests by the natives and reared by hand, but this is no longer the case. Cockatoos, like most other tropical birds, are caught in large numbers in nets, and exported to Europe by wholesale buyers. All species now come into the market annually in considerable numbers, and the prices have risen a good deal.

We find these beautiful birds principally as an ornament in zoological gardens and other collections. That it has not attained to more general favour is probably due, apart from the causes mentioned by Mr. Dulitz (p. 139), to the fact that such a large bird needs more space than every household has to spare; that it is accounted a dreadful screamer, does not belong to the most notable talkers, and finally, that the bites of a large Cockatoo, when wild or badly trained, are feared as dangerous. It is, therefore, rarely found in private dwellings, except in the gorgeous cages of a large drawing-room, ante-room, or the like. In spite of this, however, as may be seen from the above descriptions, they have their special fanciers, who show great partiality for them, closely observe and study them, and enthusiastically esteem them as valuable cage-birds.

The diet of Cockatoos is very simple; they must have chiefly seeds, hemp, canary seed, oats and maize, also stale dry bread, biscuit, or egg-bread, and good fruit, especially apples; boiled rice, which was formerly so much given, should be avoided. An acclimatised Cockatoo of any species is one of the hardiest of birds, and can be kept without danger through the winter in a room without a fire. With good management it attains to an extreme old age. With regard to its cage, it must be borne in mind that it can do astonishing things with its beak, which can be used as hammer, pincers, or screw-driver, and with its cleverness and cunning it succeeds beyond belief in opening cage doors, loosing the foot chain, etc. "Foot chains and their fastenings, stands, wire grating, food and drinking vessels, strong wooden frames, and zinc linings, are destroyed; it can even learn to undo a double screw," says Fiedler. Many efforts have been made to find a means of correcting this habit, but as yet unsuccessfully.

The word "Cockatoo," in Karl Hagenbeck's opinion, is not a mere imitation of a natural sound. Dr. A. B. Meyer says it means "pincers," or "crab's claw," and has reference to the beak.