  Psittacus galeatus, Lath. Ind. Orn., Supp. p. xxiii.—Kuhl, Consp. Psitt, in Nova Acta, tom. x. p. 88. Red-crowned Parrot, Lath. Gen. Syn., Supp. vol. ii. p. 369. pl. 140.—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 523.—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 218. pl. xxviii. Calyptorhynchus galeatus, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 274.—Less. Man. d’Orn., tom. ii. p. 144. Corydon galeatus, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., vol. i. pp. 504 and 690. Plyctolophus galeatus, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 302. Banksianus galeatus, Less. TraitÉ d’Orn., p. 181. Callocephalon Australe, Less. Callocephalon galeatum, G. R. Gray, List of Gen. of Birds, 2nd edit., p. 68. Cacatua galeata, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. xvii. p. 12.—Ency. MÉth., tom. iii. p. 1414. Psittacus phoenicocephalus, Mus. de Paris. Gang-gang Cockatoo, Colonists of New South Wales. The only information I can give respecting this fine species is that it is a native of the forests bordering the south coast of Australia, some of the larger islands in Bass’s Straits, and the northern parts of Van Diemen’s Land, and that it frequents the most lofty trees and feeds on the seeds of the various Eucalypti. A few instances have occurred of its being brought to England alive, where it has borne captivity quite as well as the other members of the great family to which it belongs; thus affording sufficient evidence that the Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchi) would thrive equally well were the experiment made, the form and habits of the two birds being very similar. The paucity of the account here given will I trust be a sufficient hint to those who may be favourably situated for observing the habits of this species, that by transmitting their observations either to myself or to any scientific journal, they would be promoting the cause of science, and adding to the stock of human knowledge. The sexes are readily distinguished by the marked difference in their plumage; both are crested, but the crest of the male is a rich scarlet, while that of the female is grey. The male has the forehead, crest and cheeks fine scarlet, the remainder of the plumage dark slate-grey; all the feathers, with the exception of the primaries, secondaries and tail, narrowly margined with greyish white—decided and distinct on the upper, but much fainter on the under surface; irides blackish brown; bill light horn-colour; feet mealy black. The general plumage of the female is dark slate-colour, the feathers of the back of the neck and back slightly margined with pale grey, the remainder of the upper surface crossed with irregular bars of greyish white; the wings have also a sulphurous hue, as if powdered with sulphur; the feathers of the under surface are margined with sulphur-yellow and dull red, changing into dull yellow on the under tail-coverts. The Plate represents a male and a female of the natural size. POLYTELIS BARRABANDI. |
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