528 Mr. Vigors on some new subjects of Zoology. 



tailed Parrots, and which M. Kuhl has separated as a section with 

 the title of Conurus, by the breadth, depression, and rounded 

 apex of the tail : the greater number of the other groups in the 

 same section having that member narrowed and cuneated. The 

 wings also like the tail are rounded, the first quill feather being 

 shorter than the second ; whereas in most of the neighbouring 

 long-tailed groups the first and second quill feathers are of equal 

 length. All the primary quill feathers except the first are marked 

 by an abrupt emargination of the outer web near the middle ; a 

 construction, which seems peculiar to the present division of the 

 long-tailed Psiltacidce, with the exception of that of Pezoporus, 

 111. The upper mandible is short, strong, and dilated, with a con- 

 siderably rounded culmen : the under is shorter than usual, and 

 the apex being abruptly bent inwards, the emargination is deeply 

 marked, and forms a profound groove. The myxa is convex and 

 entire, in which particular the present group differs from some of 

 the adjoining, where the myxa is more or less ridged. The tarsi 

 are elevated, and the toes and nails are long and slender. In 

 these last characters the present genus evinces a near alliance to 

 Pezoporus, in which the emargination of the quill feathers also 

 is apparent, although it is less abrupt, and commences nearer the 

 apex of the feather. These two conterminous genera differ chiefly 

 in the tail of the latter being more narrow and cuneated, the 

 ungues being straighter, and the lower mandible possessing a less 

 profoundly sinuated emargination, together with a sulcated myxa. 

 The genus Platycercus contains a considerable number of species 

 corresponding with the characters given above of the type P. 

 Pennantii. Among the best known of these are Psitt. Jlavigaster, 

 Temm., eximius, Lath., erythropterus, Sh.; to which the beautiful 

 species Psitt. Brownii, and Baueri of M. Temminck may also be 

 added. Psitt. comutus, Gmel. comes into the group with the 

 conterminous species, which I am about to particularize in this 

 article, of P. Pacificus, Lath., auriceps, Kuhl, and TTlietanus, 

 Lath. The well known species Psitt. scapulatus, Bechst. also 

 appertains to this genus, with which it accords in the important 

 characters of the wings, tail, and legs : but it seems to be place 

 at the extremity of the group in consequence of its bill being 



