Psittacus Moluccensis, Khl. Synonyms: Cacatua Moluccensis, Gml.; C. rosacea, Vll.;

0. erythrolophus, Lss.; C. rubro-cristata, Fnsch.; Plyctolophus rosaceus, Lz.; P. Moluccensis, LnG.

German: Der rothgehäubte oder Moluckenkakadu, Rss.

French: Cacatois à huppe rouge, Bffn.

WE cordially agree with Dr. Russ that this fine bird, we might go further and say this magnificent bird, is among the handsomest of them all (gehört zu den schönsten unter allen); for although not so brilliantly attired as the Macaws, nor so fluent a talker as the Grey Parrots and some of the Amazons, it possesses a quiet beauty that is all its own, and will often learn to talk with astonishing fluency. It has but one drawback that we know of, namely, it is not always sufficiently careful in the exercise of its particularly sonorous voice.

To hear one of these birds repeating in a vastly exaggerated key the triumphant and self-congratulatory cackle of a domestic fowl, that has just fulfilled the chief object of her existence, laying an egg, is simply to abhor it ("hate" is much too mild an expression); but to listen to it as it whispers, with depressed head and uplifted crest, in the softest and sweetest of feminine tones, " Oh! you pretty, pretty Cockey, how I love you", or some such phrase, is equally to adore it; for here again the common verb "to love" is wanting in adequate power to fully describe the feeling inspired in the mind of the hearer and beholder, by the charming voice and no less charming gesture of the bird; as it whispers in gentlest voice, and presents its head to be rubbed with the most bewitching confidence.

Perhaps, however, on the whole it is better to make the creature's acquaintance for the first time when it is in the former mood, for the sudden discovery that the beautiful possessor of that entrancing voice can transform itself at will into a shrieking fiend, is almost too distressing to be borne with equanimity; and the latter phase of its character comes like a pleasant surprise upon the owner, who had only known his acquisition by its demonical yells, and had already meditated the wringing of its neck, notwithstanding the beauty of its coat, in the fear that he himself might be rendered stone deaf, or at least be summoned by one of his neighbours as a public nuisance.

Yes, the great Moluccan Cockatoo has its drawbacks we admit; but what a truly magnificent creature it is when in perfect plumage, and how gentle and loveable it can be when kindly treated and made much of.

Surpassing in size of body the largest of the Macaws, and covered with feathers that remind one of childhood in the country and raspberries and cream, it is no wonder this monarch of the Cockatoo race has had admirers from the earliest date of its importation into Europe, almost a couple of centuries ago, as well as enemies that cannot say a good word for it, and in whose eyes its merits are outweighed by its faults; which very often, if not always, are the result of wrong treatment and ignorance of its habits and requirements.

As we have said, it is a large bird, measuring seventeen or eighteen inches in length, of which the tail occupies about six; the wings are each about a foot long, and very powerful, so that the bird when wild has great capacity for flight; often soaring at such an elevation that it is invisible to the naked eye, although its piercing cries are distinctly audible, as it flies to and fro between its feeding and its sleeping grounds.

White, tinged with pale rose red, is the prevailing colour of the plumage, which in a perfect specimen is powdered copiously with a substance resembling French chalk in appearance, that adds a wonderful lustre to the coat. The crest, which is about six inches in length, lies down the back of the head and upper part of the neck, and is scarcely noticed until the bird, getting excited from whatever cause, lifts it up and displays not only the length and width of the plumes that compose it, but their beautiful ruddy orange tint. The side tail feathers have their inner webs a pale primrose yellow, from base to centre, the remaining portion, as well as the central pair, being white. The beak is bluish black, the circle of the eyes pearl grey, and the eyes themselves deep hazel, although some individuals have them of a darker shade than others, and these may be the males. Dr. Karl Buss describes the eyes as black, or dark brown (schwarz bis dunhel-braun), which is also our experience as regards them.

Though natives of the Moluccas, principally of the Island of Ceram, these grand birds are not in the least delicate, but, on the contrary, are perhaps among the hardiest of the members of the great family to which they belong; for if turned out during the summer they endure the cold of our winters with perfect impunity, and gain in loveliness of feathering what they may lose in tameness and docility; though a tame Moluccan Cockatoo, that is permitted to range a wood at its free will, never becomes very wild, and will always return to its cage for food; although it will occasionally stray to a great distance, and not perhaps be seen or heard of for a day or two, when it will return "as hungry as a hunter", just as the disconsolate owner is beginning to fancy that his pet is lost; but of that catastrophe there is no fear, unless some felon sportsman should chance to see and shoot a bird he cannot but know to be a domestic one, and belonging to a neighbour, if not a friend. If left alone, the Moluccan Cockatoo, when tired of rambling, especially if hungry, will always return to his cage, for he is gifted, among his many desirable qualities, with a strong homing instinct, and has never been known to lose his way when foraging abroad.

From among a multitude of anecdotes relating to this species, we select the following for reproduction in these pages; premising that the information thus given, was elicited by the annexed query that appeared in The Bazaar for January 26th., 1887.-"Can any reader tell me anything about the 'Large White Demon Cockatoo'?" to which an anonymous correspondent thus replied:-

"I do not know its age, but it must be ten years since my sister-in-law went to a bazaar in Calcutta, to buy a gift for a brother just starting by train. This bird has the most fascinating way of whispering confidentially, 'Pretty Cocky!', and the dealer seeing my sister taken by it, of course told her that it was the most splendid talker in Calcutta, with strings of sentences and the power of speedily learning anything, and named a high price, which was paid, and the bird changed hands, but has never learned anything else.

"In its feathered and clean days it was a very lovely bird. I used to wash it with soap and water, and then it was all of a faint bluish pink; but I was advised not to wet it, and have not done so for more than a year, so that it looks rather dirty now, and has for some time been plucking out its feathers. I sometimes think it has insects, but have never seen any.

"At times it is exceedingly fierce. I have seen it keep seven men armed with spades and long brooms, in a corner. It is extraordinarily fond of children, and perfectly safe with the youngest infant. It is generally most civil to visitors, but working men it cannot abide (on the watch-dog principle, I suppose); and if one of them lifts a hammer, or kneels down to do any work, it utters its warning cry of 'Coquey! Coquey!' and flics at their heels; and when it has hurt or terrified its victim, flics away shrieking, as if itself in agony or pain, and then goes about limping to make me believe that it has been kicked.

"I notice that the bird fights on other grounds, especially when it has chosen a corner as its own, which it defends against all comers, flying out at intruders, and appearing to immensely enjoy their discomfiture, though it is the only member of the household that does so. However, the instant I say 'enough!' and hold out my hand, it is quiet; for it likes to bo petted, but not for very long, as it is equally fond of a change of occupation. It is frightful on furniture, window frames, and paper, anything, in a word, that can be destroyed. "It used always to live in the open air in India, and drive about on my brother's carriage, and in Scotland drove with me regularly when I went out, simply holding on to the back of the pony-chaise, and wild with delight. In the East it lived in the trees; but here, in a tiny garden, in the middle of a town, it is too destructive, and too great a temptation to thieves. It has been stolen twice, but nearly bit the man's hand off on one occasion, and then flew, shrieking, to me in triumph.

"It is afraid of chickens, or indeed of any bird whatever. It lives mainly in a small cage, and, when tired of that, in a barrel with paper in it, where it is very fond of burrowing, and where it lays its eggs, of which it deposits about three in the course of a year. It delights to fly out of the barrel at the maids, or anyone else who comes near, and seems greatly to enjoy their screaming and running away.

"I am not aware whether Cockatoos of this species (the Red-crested Moluccan) have been bred in England; but if anyone who has a male bird of the same kind would kindly lend it to me, I would be glad to try the experiment, and take the greatest care of the loan; especially as I understand that the care and rearing of young ones has the effect of preventing feather-eaters from destroying their own plumage. "On reading over what I had written, I am shocked to find what a one-sided character I have given of my dear but not faultless bird; but some people are so timid as regards Parrots that it is only right to warn them against wickedness; and yet that is not the word, for it is pure fun and mischief - méchante as opposed to mauvaise.

"You will be interested to hear how my bird once saved an infant's life, by enabling one that was totally inexperienced in the matter to wean another. In fact it is a bird one might write a book about." Our correspondent, however, furnishes no details of this interesting experiment, but proceeds: "It (the Cockatoo) was devoted to its barrel the first year, and its ways were most curious. It hid its egg deep down in the paper, which was all bitten up into minute scraps; then it did not sit as ordinary birds do on their eggs, but laid sideways and rolled about. The last two years it took no notice of its eggs whatever."

The above interesting letter elicited several replies, and offers of mates for the lady's Cockatoo, but nothing came of it, and the Mo-luccan lives a life of single blessedness to the present day; which is a pity certainly, but cannot be helped. We did think of giving her a trial, but reflection as to the risk incurred decided us finally to abandon the notion too; for after all it was doubtful if such a bird would have agreed with a mate, as happened in the case of another correspondent, who once introduced two of these birds to each other; when, although they were an undoubted pair, they immediately commenced to fight so furiously, that one of them must have been killed if the owner had not interfered and separated them - a by no means easy task, during which he was severely bitten.

Again, Parrots may be very kind to people and children in their own house, and when transferred to a strange place may fiercely attack everyone, child or adult, that comes near them; so, as we have said, every negociation fell through, and the idea of breeding Moluccan Cockatoos in captivity, is for the present in abeyance.

As might be expected, these birds live to a great age. Dr. Russ relates, on the authority of Herr Dusek, of Vienna, that a Moluccan Cockatoo, which had lived twenty-one years in the aviary of the Princess Schwartzenberg, was then placed with a male, and soon afterwards laid an egg!

A dealer of Berlin, P. Schmidt, acquired one of these birds, which had been in the possession of one family, handed down from father to son, for nearly one hundred years; and it afterwards lived with him for nineteen years more, and then died, not from old age, but from an accident that befel it.

As happens with most of the Parrot family, the males are the best speakers; the females only learning to say a word or two, which they repeat in a softer tone than their mates, although they can scream, or yell rather, in quite as loud a key.

In this country the Moluccan Cockatoo appears to command a higher price than it does in Germany, where Dr. Russ quotes the price at from thirty to one hundred and fifty marks; but we never knew of one here that has been offered, except by a private person ignorant of its value, for less than £5 or £6, and more frequently the latter price than the former.

When excited, or when shrieking for its own amusement, and the torture of sensitive ears, its trumpet-like note of "tertinguè, tertinguè", the Moluccan Cockatoo stands on tip-toes, elevates its beautiful crest, spreads its wings, and puffs out every feather on its body; so that it becomes a most alarming-looking object, though one of exceeding beauty. A very tame bird of this species, however, will very seldom shriek, and will trot after its master or mistress all over the house like a pet dog; which sagacious animal it can also compete with as a household guard.

Not far from where we live is one of these birds, that has been in the possession of the family that own it for quite a number of years. It is kept, for the most part, chained to a stand; which, by the way, is a much better method of keeping a large Cockatoo than confining it in a cage. It is very tame, and a good talker; one of the expressions it most affects being the interrogation, "Who are you? What do you want?" uttered in the most human-like of tones. It is usually kept in the breakfast-room, which is on the ground floor, and looks out on the common. One night, or rather early one morning, the master and mistress of the house were roused by the shrieks of the Cockatoo, which kept on calling out "Who are you? What do you want?" in the loudest and most excited manner.

"I am sure, my dear, there are thieves downstairs!" said the lady. "Nonsense!" exclaimed the gentleman, impatiently; "it's the cat more likely." However, as the noise continued, he thought he had better go and see what was the matter, if only for the sake of quieting the bird; and arming himself with some weapon and a light, proceeded downstairs, cautiously, to the breakfast-room, where he found the Cockatoo with every feather literally standing on end from excitement, and the window open!

Nothing was missing, however, for the thieves, or thief, had been so thoroughly alarmed by the bird that they, or he, had evidently not even entered the room, but had fled at the first challenge, leaving the sash raised. The gentleman shut and bolted the window, praised his good guard, gave it a tit-bit, and went back to bed, feeling thankful that he was the owner of so sensible and valuable a creature.

It is to be hoped that at no very distant date, some amateur may have the gratification of seeing a brood of these birds reared in his aviary, for eggs are of frequent occurrence, even in the case of solitary females; and the process of egg production, appears to be unattended with the pain and danger that accompany it in the case of the smaller Cockatoos.

A correspondent, who possesses a fine specimen of the Moluccan Cockatoo, writes as follows respecting her pet:-"My bird has no history; his chief merits are his beautiful plumage and his affectionate ways; he is no talker, but a great thief, and delights in stealing things off the table, if we pretend not to see him. His chief amusement is dancing in the funniest way, and executing steps like a young lady, with his beak in the air."

Prom the foregoing account we incline rather to the belief that the bird is a female, for the males are more loquacious (we are now speaking of Moluccan Cockatoos), and not, as a rule, so tame as this bird appears to be; and in a subsequent communication from its owner, that lady says: "My red-crested bird has densely black eyes, all over alike, with no discernible pupil; but I begin to think he is a lady, for he is so remarkably polite and affectionate lately to our Yellow-crested Cockatoo, which is decidedly a male. It is very funny to see the other offering kisses to him across the room. I put the stands close together to-day, but the Yellow-crest showed signs of fight, and snapped at his admirer!"

The Hon. And Rev. F. G. Dutton's Account Of The Great Salmon-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua Moluccensis)

This, according to my experience, is the most charming of all the Cockatoos, and very much to be recommended to any one who can let them fly loose. Taken as a species, they are the best talkers amongst the Cockatoos; but I must admit I never kept a Goffin. When a Lemon-crest is a good talker, he beats the Salmon-crest; but taking numbers imported into consideration, you find a greater proportion of Salmon-crests talk than of Lemon-crests. He is also the gentlest of all the Cockatoos, and the most certain.

The first I ever had did not talk, but he had great character. I don't think he was altogether wise, for he took the greatest possible dislike to me, who was prepared to be very fond of him, and was devoted to a friend of mine, who decidedly disliked him. In fact his devotion was so great that I tried to persuade my friend to accept him; but in vain. As I could not get over his hatred of myself, I parted with him.

The next I had was gentle and good-tempered with every one. The Salmon-crests are not at all treacherous, and that is more than can be said for Lemon-crests. If they hate you, they hate you; but if they are good-tempered, they never think of biting. Any one might pet my second bird. He used to be allowed to fly loose, and formed a beautiful sight flying at an enormous height in the air. He always stayed out three days, and then came home to feed. He loved to splash about in the wet boughs after a shower.

The third I had I bought cheap as a confirmed feather-picker. I rather hoped to cure him; but finding I could not, parted with him again. Perhaps while I am on the subject of feather-picking, I may give a hint or two to amateurs. Feather-picking comes from two causes. One is from improper conditions of life, either as to diet or cleanliness. This is when the bird pulls out its feathers, and tears its flesh. It is the most distressing kind to see, but much the most curable. Restore the bird to health, and he will probably give up the habit.

The other cause is ennui. The bird is a restless active bird, and he gets bored. He learns to pick his feathers by way of distraction. You can only cure this kind by continually occupying his attention; and as this is next to impossible, it is not very likely that this kind of feather-picking will be cured.

There is also a third trick Parrots have, and that is nibbling their feathers. This is pure trick, just like a child's biting its nails. You can make the child understand it mustn't, and yon can tie up its hands in gloves; but you can neither make the Parrot understand, nor muffle its feathers. As with diseases, so with tricks: an ounce of prevention is worth pounds of cure. See that a bird has plenty of firewood to make matches of before it begins to pluck itself.

The Salmon-crest has with all his charms two or three drawbacks, which prevent his being suited for cage life. His screams are more than any one who is not stone deaf can endure, and I never knew one which was quite broken of screaming. Then they have a very strong smell, which renders them quite unfitted for a living room, though they might do for a hall. Though they come from the Moluccas, they appear to be very hardy. Their best place is certainly at liberty. They are not destructive to trees like the Macaws, and make quite as beautiful an object flying about. Their price is unvarying. All dealers charge £5 a piece for them.