PSITTACI 



267 



has a broad basihyal with the short angular processes which 

 suggest the more elaborate parahyals of the parrots. 



The classification of the parrots has been attempted by 

 more than one naturalist ; but, as GADOW has justly ob- 

 served, ' our knowledge of the anatomical structure of these 

 birds is at present too incomplete in relation to their large 

 numbers.' 



GADOW himself has practically divided them by the 

 structure of the tongue into two families, Trichoglossidae and 

 Psittacidn?. In all the Trichoglossidae the orbital ring is 



FIG. 133. HYOID OF Loritts domicclla (AFTER MIVAIIT) 



AS IN FIG. 131. 



LETTERS 



incomplete, and it is possible that the remarkable structure 

 of the hyoid, described above, may serve to distinguish this 

 family. The first family contains only Nestor, the lories, 

 Cyclopsittacus, and Lathamus ; but the two latter are very 

 iinperfectly known. The remaining genera are relegated to 

 the second family. 



GARROD'S arrangement of the group, anterior to that of 

 GADOW'S in point of time, is based upon the variations of 

 the ambiens, oil gland, furcula, and carotids. The facts, 

 with a few others added, are displayed in the following- 

 table :- 



