420 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



" The proximal ends of the incomijlcte furcukim are well-developed, 

 so much so that it might at first sight seem that their symphysial ends are 

 only lost in correlation with the excessive reduction of the powers of 

 flight ; though this is probably not the case, because the allied similarly 

 modified genera Ei/phcina, etc., do not keei) to the ground." 



Doctor Sclater and Dr. Sharpe have both in their schemes of avian 

 classification placed StrigoJ^s in a family Stn'gopidce, and its structural 

 peculiarities certainly entitle it to no higher rank in the system. 

 Geopsittacus, externally, closely resembles the Owl Parrot, but I have 

 not as yet had the opportunity to examine the osteology of this genus, 

 and so from personal observations I am unable to say whether it ought 

 to be included in the Strigopidce or not. 



Apart from the partial atrophy of the pectoral limb, carina sterni, 

 and possibly the os furculum, I see nothing very extraordinary in the 

 skeleton of this Ground Parrot, as the balance of its osseous structure is 

 completely psittacine, and points in no other direction whatever. 



In the skull the orljital bony ring is complete, while the orbit, com- 

 paratively speaking, is rather small. The nostril is not circular as in 

 Conuri/s, but presents a continuous limited concavity in front of it. 

 For a Parrot the mandibles are lacking in the power so often seen in 

 other members of the group. They are far slra/gl/lcr, and the notching 

 at the end of the superior is barely evident. 



As in Conunts, it has 14 cervical 7'crtcbrce, with a well -developed 

 pair of free ribs attached to the last two. The dorsals include the 

 15th to 19th vertebra; and all these have ribs connecting with the 

 sternum ; and all these ribs have epipleural appendages save the last 

 pair. This also applies to the only pair of pelvic ribs present, and 

 these also connect with the sternum by means of their hc"emapophyses. 

 One pair of " floating ribs " are also present. 



T)\^ pelvis in all essential respects is psittacine, and the jv'a: vertebra; 

 of the tail, as well as xVo. py go style, are well-developed. 



While the skeletal frame of the wing is markedly reduced in size, 

 this does not apply to the strong bony skeleton of the pelvic extremity, 

 and both have the usual parrot-characters of these parts distinctly 

 present. In the manus, both the pollex and the index digit are 

 terminated by a minute, free claw-i)oint, that is not to be found in all 

 members of this .suborder. 



With this brief reference to the osteology of the famous Owl Parrot, 

 I simply repeat here that I must believe there can no longer be any 



