ON THE GENUS LATHAMUS. 69 



both these birds as compared with the more ground-loving mode of life 

 of the Platycerci, that no stress can be laid on it as a taxonomic character. 

 The rounded end of the wing-feathers, however, of Lathamus still point 

 to its Platycercine affinities. Its feet, too, though not typically Platy- 

 cercine, differ from those of the TrichoglossinsD (cf. figs. 2 and 6, p. 68) 

 by their more elongated and slender tarsi and toes, with the latter not so 

 much flattened and fitted for grasping branches, &c., as are those of the 

 Lories, and with the claws not so strong and longer, particularly that on 

 the third digit. In both these points more resemblance to the Platycerci 

 is shown (cf. fig. 4, p. 68, foot of Psephotus Ticematog aster), though the 

 different modes of life * have here again induced a certain amount of 

 change from the form observed in the truly terrestrial Platycerci. 



A thorough study of the osteology of the Parrots has yet to be made ; 

 and till that is done it is perhaps somewhat premature to generalize. P. Z. S. 1879, 

 Nevertheless, having examined somewhat carefully a considerable number P* ^' 

 of the skeletons of the two groups with which Lathamus has been 

 generally associated, I have, I believe, been able to detect certain dif- 

 ferences which will help us in referring the bird at present under dis- 

 cussion to its proper place. 



First, as regards the skull. This, in all the Trichoglossinse, is remark- 

 able for its somewhat depressed form and the lateral compression and 

 elongation of the upper and lower jaws, the mandible when deprived of 

 its horny sheath showing even more clearly the peculiar shape of the* 

 lower jaw in these birds, first pointed out by Sundevall and already 

 alluded to above (PI. I. fig. 7). In the Platycerci the skull is less 

 depressed above and much shorter in proportion, and the mandible is 

 nbt pointed, but has its symphysial portion wide, deep from above down- 

 wards, and somewhat truncated. The same is the case in Lathamus 

 (PI. I. fig. 8). 



In the Lories the lengthening of the beak has led to a similar elonga- 

 tion in the anterior limb of the palatine bones, so that this part is as long 

 as, or longer than, the posterior one; and the latter is considerably 

 shorter than the pterygoids. In the Platycerci the anterior part of the 

 palatines is not so elongated ; but, on the contrary, the posterior limb is 

 somewhat lengthened, and, in fact, nearly as long as the pterygoids, 

 Here, again, Lathamus agrees more with the Platycerci. 



In the Lories (PL I. fig. 9, Eos rubra) the anteorbital processes are 

 much larger and better-developed than in the Platycerci, where the 



* Mr. Gould says (' Handb. B. Austr.' ii. p. 89) : " In its actions and manners it is 

 closely allied to the Trichoglossi, but diners from them in some few particulars, which 

 are more perceptible in captivity than in a state of nature. It has neither the musky 

 smell nor the jumping motions of the Trichoglossi. I have never observed it alight ou 

 the ground, or elsewhere than among the branches." 



