58 John Hogg. Esq., on the Classification of Birds. 



find the parrots approaching most strongly to them. Thus, 

 I will enumerate some of their comparative resemblances. 



They have a hooked bill, — ^termed also " rostrum adun- 

 cum" by Linnwus^ and a cere covering its base, through 

 which are pierced the nostrils. These are round, like those 

 of many of the falcons and owls. Their tarsi are reticulated ; 

 and their claws, resembling talons, are sharp, and much 

 curved. The shape of some parrots is similar to that of a 

 hawk ; whilst that of some others with a short tail is thick- 

 set, and rather broad or squat, and resembles the shape of 

 an owl. Again, the naked cheeks or places about the eyes 

 of certain maccaws, represent the plumose discs, which sur- 

 round the eyes of owls. These nocturnal raptores likewise 

 further approach to the parrots, in having their external toe 

 capable of being turned backwards, which, when reversed, 

 resembles the zygodactyle position of the latter. Also in 

 their internal organization they are in these respects similar, 

 viz., the sternum of parrots is much like that of the fal- 

 conidse, while the furcula approximates to that of the owls, 

 by being somewhat flattened. And the oesophagus is equally 

 enlarged with that of the falcons. 



So far had I written, before I had seen, or even heard of, 

 that most singular parrot, Strigops habropHlus, which has 

 recently* been placed in the British Museum. This parrot, 

 as its generic name implies, is exceedingly like an owl in its 

 general conformation, in having facial discs, and long hair- 

 like feathers about its beak, and in its downy or soft feathers 

 or plumage ; from which latter circumstance, the name of 

 Habroptilus^ has been given to it. It is figured at plate 105, 

 Part XVII., of Gray's and Mitchell's " Genera of Birds," and 

 is classed by them in their subfamily Cacatuinse, which corre- 

 sponds with my family Plyctolophidw. This bird., then, fully 

 confirms, in the most unexpected manner, the views I had 

 long entertained of placing the parrot families between the 

 owls, and the insessorial birds : so this new genus Strigops 

 must stand the first, or nearest to the owls, in my y?r5/ family 

 Flyctolophidas. 



* Mr J. E. Gray informs me that he purchased this bird at Havre in the last 

 summer, and that it is a native of New Zealand. 



