CALYPTORHYNCHUS XANTHONOTUS, Gow.

Yellow-eared Black Cockatoo.

Calyptorhynchus xanthonotus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 151 ; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part IV.

 

Tue great stronghold of this species is Van Diemen’s Land, but I have also seen specimens from Flinders’
{sland and South Australia, in all of which countries it is the representative of the Calyptorhynchus funereus
of New South Wales. It is very plentifully dispersed over all parts of Van Diemen’s Land, where it evinces
a preference for the thickly wooded and mountainous districts ; and is always to be observed in the gulleys
under Mount Wellington, particularly in the neighbourhood of New ‘Town. In fine weather it takes a
higher range, but descends to the lower part of the country on the approach of rain, when it becomes
excessively noisy, and utters as it flies a very peculiar whining cry. Its flight, from the enormous size of its
wings, appears to be heavy and laborious, and while performing this action it presents a very remarkable
appearance, its short neck, rounded head, and long wings and tail giving it a very singular contour. It is
generally to be observed in companies of from four to ten in number, but occasionally in pairs only. I found
it very shy and difficult of approach, which may perhaps be attributed to its being wantonly shot wherever it
may be met with.

Its principal food is a large kind of caterpillar, which it obtains from the wattle- and gum-trees, and in
procuring which it displays the greatest activity and perseverance, scooping off the bark and cutting through
the thickest branch until it arrives at the object of its search; it is in fact surprising to see what enormous
excavations it makes in the larger branches, and how expertly it cuts across the smaller ones: besides these
large caterpillars, it also feeds upon the larvee of several kinds of coleopterous insects, and occasionally, but
not generally, on the seeds of the Banksias and berries ; chrysalides were also found in the stomachs of
some that were dissected.

I found it exceedingly difficult to obtain any particulars respecting the nidification of this bird, in conse-
quence of its resorting for the performance of this duty to the most retired and inaccessible parts of the
forests. Lieut. Breton, R.N., having informed me that a pair were breeding in a tree on the estate of
Mr. Wettenhall, I requested him to use his influence with that gentleman to have their eggs procured for
me, and on the 2nd of February 1839, I received a note from him in which he says :—

‘In compliance with your request, I wrote to Mr. Wettenhall upon the subject of the Black Cockatoo’s
nest, and he forthwith directed his shepherd to tell the tree in which the bird had established itself. It was
situated in a gulley or bottom, and was about four feet and a half in diameter. The hole was from ninety to
one hundred feet from the ground, two feet in depth, and made quite smooth, the heart of the tree being
decayed. There was no appearance whatever of a nest. The tree was broken in pieces by the fall, and the
contents of the hole or nest destroyed ; the fragments, however, were sought for with the greatest care, and
all that could be found are sent you. It may perhaps be as well to state, that both while the tree was
being felled and for a short time afterwards, a Hawk kept attacking the Cockatoo, which flew in circles
round the tree before it fell, uttering its loudest and most mournful notes, and at times turning upon the
Hawk, until at length it flew off.”

The eggs are white, from two to four in number, and one inch and eight lines long by one inch and four
lines broad.

The bird varies considerably in size and weight, some specimens weighing as much as one pound and ten
ounces, while others weighed no more than one pound and three ounces.

The sexes, which differ but little from each other, may be thus described :—

Crown of the head, cheeks, throat, upper and under surface brownish black ; feathers of the breast
obscurely tipped with dull olive; ear-coverts yellow; two centre tail-feathers deep blackish brown, the
remainder black at the base and tips, the central portion being in some specimens uniform light lemon-
yellow, and in others the same colour blotched with spots and markings of brown; bill in some specimens
white, in others blackish brown; feet greyish brown; orbits in some black, in others pink; irides nearly
black. ;

I believe the birds with white bills to be immature.

The figures are about two-thirds of the natural size.