PSITTACI: PARROTS. 



613 



recent monographer, Finsch, recognised only 854 species as well determined, distributing them 

 in 20 genera; 142 species are American, 28 African, and 18 Asiatic; the Moluccas and New 

 Guinea have 83, Australia 59, and Polynesia 29. A later systematist, Reichexow, admits 

 430 species, assigned to 45 genera ; but the latest, Salvadori, finds 499 species of 80 genera, 

 besides about 50 more described species he has not succeeded in identifying. 



Division of Psittaci into families has taxed the ingenuity of ornithologists; for, so vari- 

 ously interrelated are the numerous genera, that their grouping fluctuates with almost every 

 character or set of characters selected for use in classification. Grarrod's curious anatomical 





Fia. 423. — Carolina Parroquel, \ luit, siz 



From Brelim, after Audubon.) 



investigations, amplified and endorsed ])y Beddard, show that Psittaci may be arranged in two 

 series, according to cluiractcrs afforded by the carotids and ambiens: I. Pal.-kounitiiid.i^ : 

 Carotids 2 (except in Cacatua), left normal, no ambiens. II. Psittacid.ic : Carotids 2. 

 left superficial, ambiens present in one series of genera, absent in others. In the subfamily 

 (1) Paleeornithinee, there is no further deviation; in (2) Cacatiiinfe, hes\i\vs lack of right 

 carotid in Cacatua itself, the orbital ring is completely ossified, and develops a bony process 

 bridging the temporal fossa ; in (3) Stringnphup, wbicli includes the curious Higbtlcss Ground 

 Parrot or Owl Parrot of New Zealand (Stringnps hubwptiliot), tlie furculum and sternal keel 

 are deficient or defective. Psitlaridrr include (4) Atiurr, in wbicli tbe ambiens is j)resent ; 

 (5) I'l/nhuriiur, iu wliicli it is absent, without ftirtlier modification; (0) PlaOjcercina:, wo 



