158 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



CHAP. LVir.— THE MICROGLOSSUS, OR MACAW 

 COCKATOO. 



Microglossus, Gffr. 



Distinguishing Maries. 



The Macaw Cockatoo is thus designated because it unites the 

 characteristics of the two genera known by these names. 

 The distinguishing marks are as follows : The beak is larger 

 than that of any other parrot, much longer than it is deep, 

 opening wide, closely compressed at the sides ; the ridge is 

 almost like a keel, bent down in a half-circle, with a long 

 narrow point, turned inwards, the sharp edge has a rounded bow, 

 a rectangular indentation, and a very broad socket edge ; the 

 nostrils are round and small, and, like the cere and lores, 

 covered with little velvety feathers ; the tongue is dark-red, 

 fleshy, cylindrical, the upper side having a spoon-like depression, 

 with a horny black point, shaped like an acorn ; the sides of the 

 head and round the upper mandible, below the eye as far as the 

 ear, and down to the base of the lower beak, featherless ; the 

 wings are rather long, with short points ; the tail is long, broadly 

 rounded off ; the feet are powerful, short, and thick ; the claws 

 are not strong, and but little bent ; the plumage is soft, each 

 feather rounded off, mixed with powdery down ; the crest con- 

 sisting of long, narrow, finely-cut feathers, bent upwards and 

 towards the back ; at the base of the lower beak there are long 

 feathers. In colour it is black, and in size larger than a 



^.^ 



CHAP. LVni.— THE GREAT BLACK COCKATOO. 



Peittacus aterrimus, Gml. 



Alecto Cockatoo, Great Palm Cockatoo (Ger., Schivarzer 

 Rilsselpapagei, AraraJcakadii, schivarzer Ararakaladii; Fr., 

 Cacatois Alecto, Microglosse ou Arara noir a trompe ; Dut., 

 A ra Kalcketoe) — Description, 



A LIVING specimen of this bird presents a rare and peculiar 

 appearance. Dr. Finsch states that it greatly resembles the 

 macaws, and yet is decidedly a cockatoo. It is deep black all 

 over the body, with a faint green tinge ; the whole plumage is 



