COCKATOOS. 
IOI 
Great Black The largest of all the cockatoos, and indeed one of the biggest 
Cockatoo. 0 f the whole parrot tribe, is the great black cockatoo (Microglossus 
aterrimus), of the Papuan Islands and North Australia, which is the sole represen¬ 
tative of its genus, and may be compared in size to a raven. It differs from all 
the other members of the family in that the flesh-coloured cheeks are entirely 
naked; and it takes its generic name from the small size of its tongue, which is 
head of great black cockatoo, with crest depressed. (From Guillemard’s Cruise of the Marchesa.) 
slender and worm-like, and thus quite unlike that organ in other parrots. It is 
further characterised by the upper mandible being much compressed, and narrower 
than the lower one; while the great elongation and narrowness of the feathers 
of the crest are also distinctive. In the living state the plumage is of a slaty 
black tint, powdered with grey ; the forehead and lores being deep velvety black ; 
while the feathers of the wings and tail exhibit green reflections. The naked 
cheeks are pale red, bordered with equally pale yellow, and the bill and feet are 
black. In length this magnificent, but funereal-looking bird, measures from 29 to 
