1864.] PARROTS OF THE MALAYAN REGION. 281 
Remark.—This bird is often brought alive to Macassar in praus 
from the Timor-laut and Tenimber islands, to which it seems quite 
restricted, all the surrounding islands possessing their distinct species. 
2. Microcrossum. 
12. MicroGLossum GouiaTH. 
Psittacus goliath, Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. pp. 9, 94; Levaill. Perr. 
t. 12, 13. 
Hab. New Guinea, Waigiou, and Mysol (4. R. W.). 
Remarks.—This extraordinary bird is of a weak structure and 
feeble flight, all its muscular power seeming to be concentrated in 
the head and bill. It is solitary, and frequents the lower parts of 
the forest, and utters a plaintive whistling note, very different from 
the harsh scream of the true Cockatoos. The bright red colour of 
the face, and the long crest, which it suddenly throws up when alarmed 
or excited, as well as the threatening aspect of the enormous bill, 
may serve to frighten away birds of prey, to whose attacks its 
solitary habits and general weakness of structure would seem to ren- 
der it especially liable. This species has probably the most powerful 
beak of any bird in the world, and it is the only creature that can 
break open the extremely hard and solid nuts of the genus Canarium, 
species of which abound in the countries it inhabits. 
13. MicroGLossuM ATERRIMUM. 
Psittacus aterrimus, Gm.; Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. pp. 12, 91. 
Ara alecto, Temm. Faun. Jap. p. 17, 
P. griseus, Bechst.; Less. Perr. t. 11. 
Hab. Aru Islands (4. R. W.); N. Australia (B.M.). 
Remarks.—The two species of Microglossum are hardly distin- 
guishable. The P. aterrimus of Gmelin seems to refer to the smaller 
form which inhabits the Aru Islands and N. Australia, and was 
therefore probably the earliest known. 
3. NASITERNA. 
14. NASITERNA PYGMZA. 
Psittacus pygmaeus, Q. & G. Voy. de l’Astrol.t. 21. f. 1,2; Wagl. 
Mon. p. 631. 
Hab. New Guinea, Mysol (4. R. W.). 
Remarks.—This curious little bird is most difficult to obtain, owing 
to its very small size and green colour, rendering it almost invisible 
among the foliage. According to the observation of my collector, 
Mr. Allen, it makes a hole in arboreal white ants’ nests, in which it 
lays its eggs, like some of the small Psittacule of South America. 
Its spined tail would indicate some peculiar habits, of which we have 
as yet no account. It is a very abnormal form, and is placed among 
the Cockatoos with considerable doubt. 
