By the late 19th century animal acts, particularly novelty acts using unusual animals, had become popular in circuses. An interesting poster in the NLA’s collection illustrates this craze, with a French connection. It advertises Robert Abdy’s travelling cockatoo circus. Dating from about 1890, it shows 19 sulphur-crested cockatoos and 2 green crested cockatoos performing various acts such as pulling a carriage, firing a canon, riding a bicycle and doing sundry acrobatic tricks R. Abdy et ses kakatoes
Julie

R. Abdy kakatoes
