74 HISTORY OF THE PARROTS. 



According to the natural system, or that founded 

 upon the affinities which connect the various mem- 

 bers of the feathered race, and which has been so 

 ably illustrated and confirmed by the writings of 

 Vigors, Swainson, and other eminent ornithologists 

 of our own country, the Psitt acidce, or family of the 

 Parrots, belong to the order Insessores, and to that 

 primary division which has been named Scansores, 

 in accordance with the climbing and prehensile 

 powers of its typical members. In this Tribe or 

 Division, it forms one of the five circular groups or 

 families into which it primarily resolves itself, the 

 other four being represented by the Picidce, or Wood- 

 peckers ; the Ramphastida, or Toucans ; the Cu- 

 culidce, or Cuckoos; and the Certhiadce, or Creepers. 

 In its own tribe, it constitutes one of the typical, or, 

 according to Mr Swainson's views, the sub-typical 

 group, as it possesses powers of grasping and climb- 

 ing superior to those of three of the above or Aber- 

 rant Groups, and inferior in some respects only to 

 those of the eminently typical Picidce. To any ob- 

 jection that the station thus assigned to this remark- 

 able family is at present rather assumed than borne 

 out by facts, or proved by direct affinity, it may be 

 observed, that although its connexion with the other 

 groups of the tribe is not of so close or direct a 

 nature as might be wished for, in consequence of 

 some of the links necessary to complete the chain of 

 affinity being deficient or unknown ; still its general 

 agreements in form and habits are sufficiently pro- 



