12 CARINAT^. 



Geuus PSITTACUS, Linn.' 

 Psittacus verreauxi, ]\IiIne-Eclwards-. 



Considerably smaller than P. crifhacng of Africa, but the tarso-metatarsus 

 coming nearest to that species, although presenting some resemblance to that 

 of Pahcornis. 



Hah. Europe (France). 



From the Lower Miocene (Upper Oligocene) of Allier. See Milne-Edwards, 

 ' Oiseaux Fossiles de la France,' pi. cc. 



Suborder IV. STRIGES. 



Desmoguathoiis birds, with a hooked rostrum, the angle of the 

 mandible not recurved, short legs with curved terminal claws, 

 and the fourth digit of the pes reversible. 



The tarso-metatarsus (fig. 5) is more or less short and stout, ex- 

 panded laterally, with the lower part of the anterior surf ace convex, 

 and the upper part deeply excavated, usually with a bony bridge over 

 the extensor groove. Its posterior surface is deeply channelled, with 

 the external border more prominent than the inner one, and the 

 talon forming one main internal ridge. Immediately below the 

 head the middle portion of the bone is reduced to a thin lamina. 

 The distal trochlete are disposed in a greatly curved plane ; the 

 fourth trochlea being small, short, and reflected. The surface for 

 the pollex is slightly marked, and situated on the inner border near 

 the second trochlea. 



The tibio-tarsus has a nearly cylindiical shaft, a deep intercon- 

 dylar gorge, and no bridge over the extensor groove (fig. 4, A). 



The femur is long, slender, and nearly C5'lindrical, the head being 

 supported on a sharp neck, and having a small but deep fossa for the 

 ligamentum teres : there is no foramen on the anterior surface ^ ; 

 the anterior trochlear gorge is narrow and deep, with the inner 

 ridge extending higher up than the outer one ^ ; there is a more or 

 less deep popliteal depression * ; the anterior intermuscular ridge is 

 distinct, and continues the whole length of the bone, withotit joining 

 the great trochanter. 



The coracoid is short, but slightly enlarged distally, with a nearly 



1 Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 139 (176G). 



= Coraptes Eendus, vol. Ixx. p. 558 (1870). 



^ This character distingui.shes from the Accipitres. 



■* These features differentiate from the Passeres. 



