Vol. ^Y^^'l Shufeldt, Skeleton of Kea Parrot (Nestor notabilis). 2Q 



The Skull. — While the main morphological characters of the 

 cranium in the. Psittaci are very similar, yet, when we come to 

 compare this part of the skeleton of the " Kea " with the cranium 

 of a Macaw, of a true Parrot, a Loriiis, or the hke, it is by no means 

 difficult to select a character here or a character there which may 

 not only be different, but very distinctive. 



Viewing the cranium of Nestor from above, it is to be noted that 

 it possesses the broad, smooth, and rounded surface seen in the 

 crania of the Psittacidce generally.* It is, however, longer than 

 it is broad, being inclined to be narrow between the orbits, with 

 the parietal prominences diffuse though well pronounced. These 

 latter are practically absent in Amazona, and circumscribed in 

 the larger Macaws. The superior margins of the orbits are sharp, 

 as is the rule in Parrots generally ; while within their edges 

 posteriorly we find a row of minute foramina for the transmission 

 of vessels (and nerves ?) to the skin of the top of the head. 



Anteriorly, the cranio'-facial hinge is quite as functional as we 

 find it in any other species of the group — indeed, more so than 

 in such a form as Ara sever a, and, perhaps, other Macaws. This 

 " cranio-facial hinge " very distinctly defines the supero-posterior 

 limitation of the upper mandible in any member of this Order 

 of bird ; in fact, in the dried skull of any Parrot of the family 

 PsittacidcB one can readily break the upper beak off from the cranium 

 simply by taking it by its forepart and forcing it backward in 

 the direction of the top of the cranium. The palatines, and maybe 

 the pterygoids, will come away with it. (See figs, i, 3, and 7 

 in Plates IV., V., and VI.) 



In Nestor the superior mandible is much elongated ; narrow 

 from above downwards, being gently decurved from base to apex, 

 and drawn out into a sharp, transversely narrow point. Its 

 osseous tomia are cultrate ; the anterior two-thirds of its ventral 

 surface (osseous roof of the mouth) being smooth and flat 

 posteriorly, and somewhat concave anteriorly. Its' posterior 

 margin is carried somewhat backwards mesially, which, in the 

 Macaws and many Parrots, is a straight, transverse line. Posterior 

 to this, the anterior ends of the palatines pass forwards and 

 upwards into the rhinal chamber (fig. 3, Plate V.) 



For a Psittacine bird, the nasal apertures are unusually large. 

 In either one of them the outline is elliptical, while the circular 

 aperture is at the posterior base of the concavity (fig. i, Plate IV.) 

 The maxillo-nasal suture is persistent. 



family Nestoridce), is placed as the leading family of the group next before 

 the Loriidcs. Shufeldt, R. W., " Osteology of the Palceornis, with Other 

 Notes on the Genus," Trans, of the Royal Society of South Africa, vol. v., 

 part 5, June, 1916, pp. 575-591, plates xxxix.-xli. ; plate xxxix. is a coloured 

 figure of the bird. 



* When Nestor is mentioned in the present contribution, it is to be under- 

 stood that Nestor notabilis is the species invariably referred to. I regret to 

 say that I have, at this time, the skeletons of no other representatives of 

 that genus before me for comparison. 



