COCK'ATOO' (Hind. kakiittla, Malay kaka lila, onomatopoetic from its cry). A bird of the family ('acatuida', of the order Psittaci They are closely related to the true parrots, and by some ornithologists are regarded as merely a subdivision of that family. The bill is high and curved train the base, and the tail is long, broad, and rounded. The head is also large, and in the true •ovkatoos is surmounted by a crest of long and pointed feathers, with their tips directed forward, which can he erected and expanded like a fan or depressed at the pleasure of the bird. The trim cockatoos (Caeatua) are generally whitish in color, often finely tinged with red, orange. or other colors. The name 'eockatoo,' however, is also commonly extended to nearly allied genera. as Calyptorhynehus and Aliero glossus. in both of which the plmnage is gener ally dark. and to which belong the black eoeka tons of Australia and of the Indian Archipelago.
The genus Mieroglossus, one of which is the great black cockatoo or ara (q.v.) of New
Guinea (.11icrogiossus «tcrrim us), the largest of all the Psittaci, is remarkable tor the struc ture of its tongue, which is cylindrical, tubular, capable of being greatly protruded from the mouth, and terminates in a cloven, horny tip. All the cockatoos are natives of the Philippines, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, and especially of Australia and Tasmania, where they formerly abounded, and were hunted for food by the na tives. They live on fruits and seeds, insect larva', etc. Some of them are frequently to be seen in confinement in Europe, particularly the lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo (('ae«tu« gale lila), which, although of comparatively tame plumage, is a general favorite on accomit of its docility. None of the cockatoos learn to speak many words. Their name is derived from their cry. See Plate of COCKATOOS AND .,11ACAWS. Compare PARROT.