COCKATOO HELPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1940, Page 5

COCKATOO HELPS.

COLLECTS COMFORTS.

THRICE ROUND WORLD AT 92. (Special—By Air Mail.) LONDON, May 18. I Thanks to an Australian cockatoo, men of the Bucks Light Infantry are being kept well supplied with cigarettes, books and "comforts." Their benefactor is 92-year-old "Cocky," a famous figure in the Buckinghamshire town of Slough.

He site in a cage outside the pet shop kept by his owner, Mr. W. Farquhar Moody. Beside him is a box into which the hundreds of people who crowd round to have a chat with "Cocky" slip cigarettes, chocolates and other comforts for the Tommies.

I The celebrated Cockatoo has already collected more than 5000 cigarettes for the men and 50 cigars for the offisers as > well.

"In addition to the smokes, 'Cocky' has collected heaps of novels, ecarves and postal orders for the boys," Mr. Moody eaid. "He does pretty well himself, too. His admirers give him chocolates, biscuits, bananas, ice-cream, cakes, and even grapes at 4/6 a pound. Everybody loves him."

"Cocky" has been round the world three times, and once rode a horse in a circus. Hβ sings, dances, talks to the customers and calls for a drink whenever he gets dry. (