CALYPTORHYNCHUS NASO, Gouwia.
Western Black Cockatoo.

Calyptorhynchus naso, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part Vio LOGE

Kar-rak, Aborigines of the mountain and lowland, and

Keer-jan-dee of the Aborigines of the northern districts of Western Australia.
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo of the Colonists.

 

Tur characters by which this species is distinguished from the Calyptorhynchus macrorhynchus, are a smaller
bill and a shorter and more rounded crest; the same characters, which I know to be constant, also distin-
guish it from the C. Banksii. The bill is inclined to be gibbose, like that of C. Leach, to which species it
also offers a further alliance in its shorter contour, rounded crest, and short tail.

The extent of range enjoyed by the Calyptorhynchus naso I have not been able to ascertain; its great
stronghold appears to be the colony of Swan River, where it inhabits all parts of the country. As might be
expected, its habits and economy closely resemble those of the other members of the genus. Except in the
breeding-season, when it pairs, it may often be observed in companies of from six to fifteen in number.

It breeds in the holes of trees, making no nest, but merely collecting the soft dead wood on which to
deposit its eggs, which are generally placed in trees so difficult of access that even the natives dislike to
climb them. The eggs are four or five in number; the four given to Mr. Gilbert by the son of the colonial
chaplain were taken by a native from a hole in a very high white gum-tree, in the last week of October ;
they are white, one inch and eight lines long by one inch and four lines broad.

It flies slowly and heavily, and while on the wing utters a very harsh and grating cry, resembling the
native name.

The stomach is membranous and capacious, and the food of those examined contained seeds of the
Eucalypti, Banksia, &c.

The sexes, which differ considerably in colour, may be thus described :-—

The male has the entire plumage glossy greenish black; lateral tail-feathers, except the external web of
the outer one, crossed by a broad band of fine scarlet; irides dark blackish brown ; bill bluish lead-colour,
becoming much paler on the under side of the lower mandible; feet brownish black, with a leaden tinge.

The female has the upper surface similar to, but not so rich as, that of the male, and has an irregularly
shaped spot of yellowish white near the tip of each of the feathers of the head, crest, cheeks and wing-
coverts; the under surface brownish black, crossed by numerous narrow irregular bars of dull sulphur-
yellow ; the under tail-coverts crossed by several irregular bars of mingled yellow and dull scarlet; the
lateral tail-feathers dull scarlet, fading into yellow on the base of the inner webs, and crossed by numerous
irregular bars of black, which are narrow at the base of the feathers and gradually increase in breadth
towards the tip.

The Plate represents the two sexes about two-thirds of the natural size.