THE BLACK COCKATOO. 



127 



of July, 1821, entitled, Organes de la deglutition 

 et du gout des Parraquets Microglosses. To illus- 

 trate the ciu'ious formation of the tongue, a figure 

 is given of it, which he had executed from the 

 living animal. 



Like all Parrots, they crack, without difficulty, 

 walnuts, nuts, and all kinds of fruit stones ; but 

 when they have detached the kernel, they do not, 

 like their congeners, crush and swallow them in 

 great fragments ; the entry of their oesophagus 

 would, however, permit them to do so, for this 

 opening is large enough to receive the entire 

 kernel. 



The whole body, head, crest, wings, tail, and 

 feet of this species are of a uniform grayish black, 

 subject to change from the play of light. The 

 naked space round the eyes is of a rose colour, 

 and the irides deep scarlet, approaching to crimson. 

 The crest consists of long pendulous feathers, 

 disposed in various directions ; the bill is intensely 

 black. 



The Black Cockatoo measures about twenty-two 

 inches from the crown of the head to the tip of the 

 tail. It is a native of the East Indies. 



This bird is the type of Vieillot's genus Micro- 

 glossus. 



