442 CLASS XVI. 



reason why a genus that contains only two oi' three species should 

 be more natural than if it contained a hundred times that number ; 

 and if, with Linn^us, we say character non facit genus, we ought 

 also to add, in his spirit, numerus non tollit genus. Therefore we 

 leave most of the species under the genus Psittacus. 



Psittacus L. Bill high at the base. Tongue thick, fleshy, 

 obtuse. Wings with second and third or first three quills sub- 

 equal, second mostly the longest of all. 



"h Tarsus longer than middle toe (i. e. anterior and exterior) tvitJiout the 

 claw. 



PezopJiorus Illig. Bill short, not as high as the forehead; upper 

 mandible hooked at the tip; lower shorter, with angle ascending, 

 broad. Claws slender, elongate, somewhat straight. Tail long, 

 cuneiform, with feathers acuminate towards the extremity. 



Sp. Psittacus terrestris Shaw, Psittacus formosus Lath., Labillardiere 

 Voyage a la Recherche de La Perouse, PI. lo. Less. Orniih. PL 19, fig. 

 3, GuERiN Iconogr., Ois. PI. 37, fig. 2, Selby Nat. Hist, of Parr. PI. 29, 

 New Holland and Van Diemen's Land ; this species lives on the ground 

 and seeks its food there amongst the bushes. 



+t Tarsus shorter than middle toe. 



Nasiterna Wagl., Micropsitta Less, Bill short, high. "Wings 

 pointed, long, with first quill longest. Tail-feathers with points 

 acuminate, naked. Toes slender, somewhat long. 



Sp. Psittacus pygmceus Quot and Gaimard, Voyage de VAstrolohe, PI. 27, 

 figs. I — 4; New Guinea; the smallest species of this whole family; not 

 larger than the smallest native songster, ex. gr. Sylvia regidus. 



Psittacula Briss., Gray (and Agapornis Selby). Bill subcom- 

 pressed, high, with upper mandible produced, sinuate behind the 

 acute tip. Wings with first two quills subequal, longest of all. 

 Tail very short. 



Sp. Psittacus passerinus L., Buff. PI. enl. 455, fig. i ; gTeen, the male 

 cobalt-blue on the back behind and on the wings; the female single 

 coloured, except the head, which is yellowish. This species occurs, like 

 some others, in South America. Other species are from tropical countries 

 of the Eastern hemisphere, as Psittacus pullarius L., Buff. PL enl. 60. 

 They are all small, mostly green-coloured parrots. 



Psittacus nob. Bill moderate, curved. Wings produced beyond 

 the middle or nearly to the extremity of tail, with second and third 

 quills subequal, longest of all. Outer posterior toe subequal to 

 anterior. Tail short, even or rounded. 



