Genus— PR OBOSCIGER. 
Probosciger Kuhl, Nov. Act. Phys. Acad. Leop. Carol, 
Vol. X., p. 12, 1820 Type P. aterrimus. 
Solenoglossus Ranzani, Elem. di Zool., Vol. III., pt. il, 
p. 18, 1821 Type P. aterrimus. 
Microglossus Vieillot, Galerie des Ois., Vol. I., pt. n., p. 47, 
pi. 50, 1822 Type P. aterrimus. 
Also spelt — 
Microglossum Vigors, Zool. Joum., Vol. II., p. 63, 1825. 
Microglossa Voigt, Cuvier’s Thierreich, Vol. I., p. 47, 1831. 
Macroglossum Temminck, Coup, d’oeil Inde. Archip., Vol. III., p. 405, 1849. 
Eurhynchus “ Berthold, Ed. Latreille Fauna Thierreich 1827,” fide C. A . Rich- 
mond in litt. Lesson, Traite d’Ornith, p. 183, 1830. 
Largest Proboscigerine birds, with huge massive bills, long crest, naked 
cheeks, long wings, long rounded tail, short legs and feet. 
Superficially recognisable by the above combination of features. The 
upper-mandible is much compressed, long, apparently solid, and much hooked, 
the tip very long, acute and pointed ; the inside of tip cross-lined. The tip is 
succeeded by a huge solid perpendicular triangular tooth, the edge afterwards 
concave. The cere is feathered, the nostrils appearing as small circular 
holes at one-third the depth from the culmen ridge. The under-mandible 
massive, broader at the base than the upper-, and almost twice as deep as 
broad, somewhat triangular, front convex and broad, sides straight, almost 
parallel, but increasing towards the base. The bill is much deeper than long, 
and the tongue is short and cylindrical. 1 
The lores , cheeks and chin are naked, and the top of the head is adorned 
with a very long crest of narrow feathers. 
The wing is very rounded with the fourth primary longest, the third 
about equal to the fifth, the second slightly longer than the sixth, with the 
first shorter than the seventh. 
The tail is very long and rounded, the feathers, twelve in number, broad, 
the length about two-thirds that of the wing. 
The feet are short, the tarsus stout, covered with small reticulate scales : 
the middle toe is proportionately long, the fourth very short. 
Superficially these birds recall Maccaws, and many years ago Kuhl wrote : 
“ Species intermedia inter Aras et Kakadoes.” 
VOL. VI. 
73 
