The Natural History of Cage Birds: Their Management, Habits, Food, Diseases, Treatment, Breeding, and the Methods of Catching Them.Bechstein, Johann Matthäus
Science
The Natural History of Cage Birds: Their Management, Habits, Food, Diseases, Treatment, Breeding, and the Methods of Catching Them.
Bechstein, Johann Matthäus
Cage birds
The length of this species is fourteen inches and a half. The beak, the
naked membrane, and feet are blackish; the circle of the eye is rather
white, and the iris inclining to red. The general colour of this species
is also white, with a primrose-yellow tint on the wings and tail, as
well as a spot of the same colour under the eyes. The tuft, which is
pointed, and composed of soft thread-like feathers, is of lemon-colour.
It comes from the same country as the preceding, to which it yields
neither in elegance, intelligence, docility, nor mildness. It is fond of
caresses, and returns them with pleasure: all its motions are equally
full of grace, delicacy, and beauty. There are two varieties of this
species, which only differ in size.
THE GREAT RED-CRESTED COCKATOO.
Psittacus Moluccensis, LINNÆUS; Kakatoes à huppe rouge,
BUFFON; Der rothäubige Kakatu, BECHSTEIN.
This species is a little larger than the common cockatoo, its size being
almost equal to that of the red and blue maccaw. Its beak is bluish
black, the membrane black, the circle of the eyes pearl grey, and the
iris deep red. The feet are lead colour, the nails black. White, tinged
with pale rose-red, is the prevailing colour; the tuft, which falls back
on the head, is very large, most of the feathers being six inches in
length; of which the under side is of a beautiful orange. In the side
tail feathers, from the base to the centre of the interior beard, the
colour is primrose-yellow; the under part of the pen-feathers has a tint
of the same.
OBSERVATIONS.--This beautiful bird has a noble air; and, though often
tamed, it is rarely so caressing as the common cockatoo; its cry,
like that of the other species, is its own name; it also cries
"_tertingue_" very loud, and like a trumpet, and imitates the voice
of several animals, particularly the cackling of fowls and the
crowing of cocks. When it cries it flaps its wings.
Though a native of the Moluccas, it is neither delicate nor difficult
to rear.
THE RED-VENTED COCKATOO.
Psittacus Philippinarum, LINNÆUS; Le petit Kakatoes des
Philippines, BUFFON; Der rothbäuchige Kakatu, BECHSTEIN.
This species, the size of the grey parrot, is but thirteen inches in
length. The beak is white, or of a pale flesh colour, and grey at the
base; the circle of the eyes is yellowish-red; the feet are of a
silver-grey; the general colour of the body is white; the head is
ornamented with a tuft, in which there is nothing remarkable but its
raising it in the form of a shell.
OBSERVATIONS.--It is a native of the Philippines. Its beauty and great
docility are its chief merits; for it cannot speak, and it also
appears of a jealous nature, being angry when it sees the other
parrots caressed, and making the unpleasant cry of "_aiai, miai!_"
but never "_cockatoo_."
THE BANKSIAN COCKATOO.
Psittacus Banksii, LINNÆUS; Le Kakatoes Noir, BUFFON; Der
Banksche Kakatu, BECHSTEIN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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