446 CLASS XVI. 



Dasyptilus Wagl., Psittrichas Less, Bill curved. Lower man- 

 dible short, emarginate before the tip. Tail moderate, rounded, 

 broad. Wings with fourth quill longest. Head covered with rare, 

 piliform feathers. 



Sp. Psittrichas Pccquetii Less., III. de Zool. PI. i, Selby 1. 1. PI. 17, (This 

 bird (from New Guinea?) I have not seen). 



Microglossus Geoffr., Probosciger KuHL. Bill strong, com- 

 pressed, high, gaping; upper mandible hooked, furnished on each 

 side with a large tooth, produced with acuminate tip far beyond 

 the lower; lower mandible very short. Tongue round, extensile, 

 with apex obtuse, transverse, horny. Head crested; cheeks naked. 

 Tail somewhat long, rounded, broad. Tarsi very short, flattened. 



Sp. Microglossus gigas, Psittacus gigas Lath., Psittacus alerrimus Gmel., 

 Less. Ornith. PI. 19, fig. i ; Guerin Icon., Ois. PI. 37, fig. i ; — Another 

 species, which might also be called Psittacus aterrimus, is smaller and has a 

 smaller bald spot on the head : Psittacus alecto, Temm. Mus. L. B. Both 

 species belong to New Guinea. On the tongue compare Geoffeot Saint- 

 HiLAiKE Mem. dio Mus. x. 1823, pp. 186 — 198; the tubercle at the end, 

 according to this writer, alone forms the tongue, the extensile cylinder the 

 covering of the tongue-bone ; I have not been able to examine the tongue. 



Strtgops Gray, [Stringopsis] ^ Bill short, covered at the base 

 by setaceous, recumbent plumes. Upper mandible curved, with 



culmen gibbous, vaulted. (Tongue ) Wings with fifth quill 



longest. Tail moderate, rounded, with featliers loose. Tarsi short, 

 strong. Claws curved, large. 



Sp. Stringopsis habroptila, Strigops habroptilus, Grat Genera PI. cv. ; of the 

 size of the larger species of cockatoo; the semblance of an owl; dirty- 

 green, spotted with yellow and brown; the bill yellowish white. This 

 singular bird is found on one of the islands of the South Pacific. 



W Bill witJiout cere. Tarsi covered anteriorly with transverse 

 scutes. 



Family XXI. Rhamphastince. Bill cellular internally, large, 

 much longer than head, with culmen convex, curved at the tip, with 

 margins serrate. Tongue horny, feathery. Tail with ten feathers. 



RhampJiastos L. (exclusive oiRhamph. Momota). Characters of 

 the family those also of the single genus. Wings with quills 

 almost concealed under the large coverts, with first quill short, 



From (TTply^, a nocturnal bird (strix), and 6i/'tr, the face ; as Loligopsis, Sec. 



