76 HISTORY OF THE PARROTS. 



Psittacus, has taken a higher rank in the natural sys- 

 tem, and has been placed upon an equality with groups 

 of a similar value, under the denomination of Family, 

 subordinate to which are other less comprehensive 

 circles or assemblages of species, the next in extent 

 being that of Sub- family. Of groups of the latter 

 denomination, the five following have been indicated 

 by Mr Swainson, whose views in this primary divi- 

 sion of the family we are inclined to prefer to that 

 formerly proposed by Mr Vigors, in the second vo- 

 lume of the Zoological Journal, as being more in 

 accordance with the natural affinities, structure, and 

 economy of the species ; and though a stricter exa- 

 mination and analysis is still required to ascertain 

 the precise situation of species whose history is but 

 little known, we have sufficient to mark the proper- 

 ties and peculiarities which distinguish these primary 

 groups. 



The first is that of Macrocercina, and is composed 

 of the splendidly attired Maccaws, all of which are 

 confined to America, as well as the nearly allied 

 forms now distinguished by the generic titles of 

 Arara, Aratinga, and Psittacara. In this division 

 also we place a group of Birds belonging to the an- 

 cient Continent, viz. the genus Palceornis, Vigors. 

 Instead of considering it, as he does, the type of a 

 subfamily, this division constitutes one of the nor- 

 mal, or, according to Mr Swainson, the subtypical 

 group of the family, and is analogous to the denti* 

 rostral tribe of the Insessores, and consequently, in 



