28 SnvF-EL-DT, Skeleton of Kea Parrot (Nestor notabilis). [isf"}"],. 



von Lorenz ; it is entitled " Uber die Skelete von Stringops 

 hahroptilus und Nestor notabilis."* 



Dr. Frank E. Beddard, F.R.S., in his excellent work on " The 

 Structure and Classification of Birds," London, i8g8, devotes 

 some little attention to Nestor. 'f He points out that the furcula 

 is complete in that Parrot. He gives the number of vertebrae 

 that occur in its spinal column, and he comments on the fact that 

 Gadow practically divided the Parrots into two families, according 

 to the structure of their tongues — viz., the TrichoglossidcB and 

 Psittacidce. " In all the TrichoglossidcB the orbital ring is in- 

 complete, 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 

 Lathamiis ; but the two latter are very imperfectly known. The 

 remaining genera are relegated to the second family " (p. 267). 

 Beddard, in his sub-order Psittaci, arrays two families, the second 

 one of which is the Psittacidce. In this family the sub-family 

 ArincB is created to contain Ara, Connurus, BolborhyncJms, Caica, 

 Psittacus, Poeocephalus, and Nestor. In all these groups the left 

 carotid is superficial, and the ambiens muscle is present. He 

 adds, on page 271 : — " Mr. Parsons and I have pointed out certain 

 likenesses between Stringops, the Cacatuincs of Garrod, and Nestor, 

 which he places in an altogether different family." 



The study of such fossil Parrots as have been discovered up 

 to date does not throw much light upon the taxonomy of the 

 existing ones. 



On the Skeleton of Nestor Notabilis. 



(Plates IV.-X., figs. 1-16.) 



During past years I have published several papers on the 

 osteology of the Psittacidce, and these will be referred to during 

 the present investigation of the skeleton of Nestor. % 



* Vorgelegt in der Sitzung am 15 December, 1881 ; Aiis dem Ixxxiv. Band 

 der Sitzh. der K. Akad. der Wissensch., i Abth., December-Heft., Jah., 

 1881, pp. 1-9. It is illustrated by three plates (Taf. i.-iii.), two being 

 devoted to some bones of Stringops and the third to Nestor notabilis. This 

 latter presents three views of the skull of Nestor notabilis, also a dorsal view 

 of the articular end of the mandible. They are lithographs, but apparently 

 fairly accurate. 



f See also Blanchard, " Des Caracteres Osteologiques Chez les Oieaux 

 de la Famille des Psittacides," Compt. Rend., xliii., p. 1,097, and xlix., 

 p. 518; Milne-Edwards, "Observations sur les Caracteres Osteologiques, 

 &c.," Ann. Set. Nat. (6), vi., p. 91. 



J Shufeldt, R. W., " Osteology of Connurus carolinensis," four. Anat. 

 and Phys., Edinburgh, April, 1886, vol. xx., pp. 407-425, plates x. and xi., 

 figs. 1-18. Shufeldt, R. \V., " Osteology of the Psittaci," Ann. Carnegie 

 Museum, vol. i., pp. 399-421, plates xxi.-xxiv., 1902. Shufeldt, R. W., 

 " An Arrangement of the Families and the Higher Groups of Birds," The 

 Amer. Nat., vol. xxxviii., Nos. 455-456, Nov. -Dec, 1904, pp. 833-857, 

 Boston, 1904, illus. ; in this arrangement the Nestoridce (Psittaciformes : Sub- 

 order xxiii.,. Sub-order xxxiv., Psittaci, Super-family I., Psittacoidce, 



