246 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



adopted, has its greatest diversity of types in the Austra- 

 lian region, hut the largest numerical value in the neo- 

 tropical (South America). Excluding the thorough globe- 

 trotters (plover-like birds), parrots are reckoned as great 

 an order of vagrants as any of the class, following as they 

 do the flowering of the eucalypts from the low to higher lat- 

 itudes. Of over 500 known species 63 are Australian. 

 Of these 40 are Victorian. The following list will (jive an 

 idea of the outline classification of the order, the first three 

 being families {idee termination), the last two sub-families 

 {ince termination). Excepting the Fig Parrakeets, which 

 are Queensland birds, each has a representative within 

 twenty miles of ]\Ielbourne, and I doubt not you are 

 familiar with all : — 1. Cacatuida? — Black Cockatoos, 7 

 species; White to Rose-tinted Cockatoos, 7 species; Grey 

 Cockatoos, 1 species. 2. Loriidie (Brush-tongued Parrots) 

 7 species; e.g., Musk Lorikeet. 3. Cyclopsittacidse (Fig 

 Parrakeets) — 2 species; habitat in Queensland. Family 

 Psittacidse : 4. Palseornithime (" Merry-thought," furcula, 

 present) — 6 species ; e.g., King Lory. 5. Platycercinse 

 (" Merry- thought " bone absent) — 33 species of broad-tails ; 

 e.g.y Rosella. 



