Psittacus roseicapillus, Vll.

Rose-crested Cockatoo, Rosy Cockatoo (Ger., Rosakakadu, Rosen-rother Kakadu, rosafarbner Kakadu, rosafarbner Kakatu; Fr., Cacatois rosalbin, Cacatois rose; Dut., Rose Kakketoe) - Distinguishing Marks - Habitat - As a Cage Bird.

One of the commonest birds in the market, the Roseate Cockatoo is also one of the greatest favourites. It is of a light rose-colour on the forehead, top of the head, and crest; the reverse side of the crest feathers is of a dark rose-colour; the back of the head, throat, cheeks, and all the lower part of the body dark rose-colour; the back, shoulders, and wings are of dark ashen-grey; the hinder part of the back, the rump, and the tail coverts, both upper and lower, are of greyish-white; the tips and the reverse side of the flight feathers blackish-grey; the tail is light-grey on the top, getting darker towards the tip, and blackish-grey underneath; the beak greyish white, with a lighter point; cere and nostrils covered with rose-coloured feathers; eyes dark brown, black, rose, or blood-red, and a broad white circle round the eye; the feet are ashen grey, inclining to a brownish flesh-colour, with black scales and claws. It is as large in size as a crow (length, 12in. to 12 3/4in.; wings, 9 3/8in. to 10 1/2in.; tail, 4 3/8in. to 5 1/4in.). The female has not yet been distinguished with certainty, for the marks pointed out for the purpose are said to be unreliable. Its habitat is the greater part of Australia, with the exception of the West, and in the mountain ranges it is found more than 700ft. above the sea. It was first described and named by Vieillot, in 1818. Gould found it in large numbers in Namoy, to which place it is not indigenous, but is said to have migrated there of late. This traveller, and also Captains Sturt and Elsey, saw it in flocks of from fifty to a hundred. They speak with enthusiasm of the splendid sight afforded by the picturesque flight of numbers of such birds. The young are very frequently stolen from the nest and brought up by the natives, who then take them to Sidney for sale. These travellers often saw them half tame living in the yards of the settlers with the hens and pigeons. Moreover, whole flocks of these cockatoos are caught in large nets during the time of migration; therefore it is one of the commonest objects of the bird market.

As it has of late been often described and observed as a cage bird, I must introduce only one such account, and I choose that of Miss M. Reuleaux, an affectionate and enthusiastic friend of birds : "Our cockatoo, which we have named 'Rosa' on account of its colour, at first sat still and silent in its cage, and was regarded as dumb. Without really having any belief in its capabilities, I repeated its name to it with a decided pronunciation; but days afterwards there was heard, to our astonishment, from the adjoining room, where the cage stood, the word, 'R-r-rosa!' After this the bird was no longer considered stupid, but everyone taught it something; thus it soon learnt to say 'Come in,' if anyone knocked at the door. In order to make it understand the sense of the word, I used to knock on the food vessel, on which it was at first very frightened, and then drew back some steps with erected crest; but before long it knocked with its beak itself, and then called out, ' Come in.' The servant, when cleaning the room in the morning, used sometimes to try to get the bird to speak, and, if it maintained an obstinate silence, she would say, 'You are a blockhead!' Ere long it would repeat 'Blockhead,' or perhaps only 'Block, block.' Then it learnt several words more or less distinctly, as well as my name, Mathilde, which is difficult to pronounce. This charming bird developed day by day, and we became as fond of it as if it had been a human being. If we left it alone in the room it became silent and gloomy; but as soon as anyone approached the door it began to scream in order to attract attention; whoever entered, it became most joyfully excited, and pressed its head against the wires to be scratched. If, however, no one went near, it grew impatient, whistled and piped in a high key, and said all the words it could think of. From being caressed it learnt to say by itself, ' Pretty fellow! pretty fellow!' with an especially droll intonation. This affectionate bird unfortunately, soon died of cramp." Observations in many directions have proved that the Roseate Cockatoo, even if not one of the most capable speakers, still belongs to those cage birds which, on account of their cleverness, drollness, and docility, are especially suited for friendly relations with human beings. Unfortunately, even the tamest and most affectionate give vent at times to their disagreeable cry. It is extremely fond of lying on its back and playing with a piece of wood, or some such thing, in its claws, turns somersaults and does other tricks, and, if it pinches its master's nose or ear for fun, it is most careful not to hurt. It is, undoubtedly, an affectionate and pleasing companion in a room, and the more it advances in taming and training the less frequently is its annoying cry heard. Its capability does not extend beyond one or two sentences or half-a-dozen words.