Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-19
rrAr1s nr rnE cocKAroo.

so Ike tIlal WHICH we call lDleiiigenCe II
nankind-renders them objects of grea
curiosity and interest as household pets
and hence they are brought from the trop
zeal elimes, where they are found in grea
abundance, and are made Gagged inmates o
our more northern homes.
The cOckatoo is one of the species, OF
divisions, Of the great family of parrots
The species of parrots are very numerous
numbering, II is said. about three hundred
ard these. while they are all included
under the general name of parrots, are di
yided by writers upon birds, into classes
known rs parOquets, lnaeaws, tories anC
cockatoos. The green and other parrots
aich are most commonly seen belong
under this division, TO what is calle(
Iuacaws. The paroquets and tories arr
quite small birds, as our readers probably
have seen The species known as maCaw.
and cocka.oos are large and remarkably
strong in limb and bill. Unlike mos
birds, both the lower and upper parts o.
their bills are movable. the upper not
forming part Of the skull, but having q
Joint lust in font OF the birds eyes, and by
aid of the very strong muscles with which
they are provided they are enabled to
crack, or cut into. the hardest kind of nuts
In their native home they live in the
dense forests and foliage of the tropics
Owing 10 the intense heat there in the
middle OF the day, they commence feeding
as soon as il is daylight in the morning
aud like one immense happy family, OF
company, on picnic, make great noise
and constant chatter while taking their
food as soon as this is over they all pro
coed 10 the nearest creek. river or pond
aud take q thorough bath, offer rolling and
q 8 ing with each other in the water like
2 company OF f-olicsome hildren The bath
over, they retire into the deep shade OF
trees and vines and sleep during the heat
81 the day, and towards night come out
again With a furious noise and chatter for
their evening meal.
The cockatnos and macaws sleep at night
in hollows OF holes in tres. when theT eau
fii6 them, and not on tree branches, as
would naturally be supposed. They also
lay their eggs in holes in The trees or in
rocks, and are not ut all particular how
many deposit their eggs in the same nest,
several often laying eggs promiscuously
together. The number OF eggs laid by one
OF these birds is two. and sometimes three,
and when the young are Matched they are
fed from the bills of the old birds. by the
latter disSorging their partly masticated
food.
The ccckatoo is noted for the beautiful
crest upeu its head. which he can raise at
will and often extends as high as six or
eight inches. This he raises upon dress
parade occasions or when frightened. In
countries where the cockatoo abound in
thei- native forests, they not unfrequently
leave the usual food found in woods and
dale, and visit orchards, grain and rice
fields, and are very destructive. Their
beauty affords them no protection VIII n
shev make these raids, for they are killed
nv the people of the neighborhood as
rapidlv as possible The natives kill them
with spears. and do it very dexterously
When they have wounded one. they tic il
in such position that others can see it, and
by its loud calls for help, numerous cocka-
zoos approach TO take its part, when they
are hit with spears and other weapons,
from ambush, and killed.
The cockatoos are a very atfectionate
bird both TO their own kind and also to
their keepers when Gagged and kept as pets.
They are also exceedingly miSchievous,
aud frequently do much damage to house
hold articles or to plants if permitted free
range The macaw family, or what is
generally here called parrots, are regarded
as the best "talkers," but the cockatoos,
many Of them. also become very clear with
English language The peculiar formation
of the tongue is what enables them to
articulate words for they really do this,
aud many of them fully as plainly as a
child They are generally very still when
doing anything which they ought not 10.
for like child. they generally know better
than to do so. This is as much as to say
that cockatooS have intelligence. And SO
they certainly have, for if they exercise
sufficient thought to answer questions and
even ask for what the wish to eat and
drink, as is frequently seen, do they not
thereby show the exercise of reason a.
clearly TO that extent rs human being?
A very interesting illustration of the in
telligence of the cockatoo was shown few
DAYS since at the residence of j. Me
Gallon, foreman of the Bell Conserva
tory grounds, in Sacramento. The
bird owned by him is often seen upon
his perch, near the main conservatory
building. This cockatoo was native OF
Australian forests; is white, with sulphur
yellow-clIcred crest, which is about six
inches long, aud has the same color
underneath lis wings The birds perch is
located under large cottonwood tree,
which stands by the side of the residence
Occasionally he is unclaimed and permit
Ted to ssunier about the premises. and not
unfreouently he climbs up the cottonwood
tree and sits for hours in the cool shade OF
its branches.
Not long since two kingbirdS selected the
same tree for their nesting place. Those
who are acquainted with the kingbird are
aware TINT they are 30 named from the
fact Of their kiugly intention 10 rule all
other birds, of whatever kind or size al
though the kingbird itself is only about
she size of bluebird. Consequently, when
the newcomers had built their mes. in the
tree. and had deposited in it their eggs,
they conc uded not To have the cocsa-
once started TO put their purpose into effect.
Fer two OF three days they kept flying at
him with great spitefulneSs and per-
sis:ency every time he came in sight The
Scockatoo received their impeTIinence in
quite an undisturbed and philosophical
way, merely turning his head 10 one side
aud taking long winks with his big eyes
IS they would dart down at him, and also
occasionally striking at them with hi:
beak. Finally one morning his good nature
gave out, and after sitting upon his perch
for few moments, rs II 10 say, " this thing
has gone far enough. and propose TO enc
II right here and now," he started in {
brisk marching way from his perch and NJ
the tree.
Our young readers are no doubt aware
that the cockatoo in u domestic state sell
dom flies, but walks and climbs wherever
he goes. There is peculiar fact, also
about his feet. OF his four toes upon each
loot, two stand forward and two back
Thus, when standing upon limb, two toe:
or each foot grasp the limb from the from
aud tive from the opposite way. This is 9
provision of nature which adds greatly &c
bis strength Of grasp, and perhaps in some
wav aids him also to held on while sleep.
ing. as he frequently sleeps with his head
hanging down, and holding TO his perch
sometimes by one foot and at other time:
by both.
On the occasion referred TO, when the
cockatoo started upon his conquest will
his kingbird adVersaries, by marching uE
the tree where they were, the klngblrd:
at once saw that there was trouble ahead
and set up great noise, and kept hyins
violently at their intruder, who scrambled
up the tree as fast as he could. There were
three large branches. or prones. TO the Tree
aud as he reached these he climbed NJ
one of them TO the end, looking sharply
upon every side as he went, as if earnestly
in search OF something, and scarcely pay
ing any attention 10 the kingbirds, when
we're making desperate efforts 10 stop his
journeyiug. and to dislodge him.
Reaching the end of the limb and moi
finding the object Of his search, the COCK
stoo returned down the limb and infne-
diately started up another of the large
branches of the tree in the same manner.
Having searched this over carefully, and