This beautiful Cockatoo is abundantly dispersed over a great part of the
interior of Australia; both Oxley and Sturt speak of it as inhabiting
the country to the north-west of the Blue Mountain range of hills; in
fact, few travellers have visited the interior without having had their
attention attracted by its appearance; and I saw it in great numbers on
the plains bordering the river Namoi, particularly under the Nundewar
range of Sir Thomas Mitchell; I possess specimens also from the north
coast, procured by the Officers of the Beagle. A difference however,
which may hereafter prove to be specific, exists between the birds from
New South Wales and those of the north coast. Those from the latter
locality are the largest in size, and have the bare skin round the eye
more extended; the rosy colour of the breast and the grey colouring of
the back are darker than in the specimens I killed on the Namoi.
The Rose-breasted Cockatoo possesses considerable power of wing, and
like the house-pigeon of this country, frequently passes in flocks over
the plains with a long sweeping flight, the group at one minute
displaying their beautiful silvery grey backs to the gaze of the
spectator, and at the next by a simultaneous change of position bringing
their rich rosy breasts into view, the effect of which is so beautiful
to behold, that it is a source of regret to me that my readers cannot
participate in the pleasure I have derived from the sight. I was
informed by the natives of the Namoi that the bird had so recently
arrived in the district, that until within the last two years it had
never been seen; they supposed it to have migrated from the north or
interior of the country. During the years 1839 and 1840 it bred in
considerable numbers in the boles of the large _Eucalypti_ skirting the
Nundewar range before alluded to, and afforded an abundant supply of
young ones for the draymen and stock-keepers to transport to Sydney,
where they are sold for a considerable sum to be shipped to England; and
as they are very hardy, and bear cold and confinement extremely well,
and are perfectly contented in a cage, we have, perhaps, more of them
living in England at the present time than of any other species of the
genus. I have seen it as tame in Australia as the ordinary denizens of
the farm-yard, enjoying perfect liberty, and coming round the door to
receive food in company with the pigeons and poultry, amongst which it
mingled on terms of intimate friendship.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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