GENUS PLYCTOLOPHUS. 143 



The next primary division is that of the Cocka- 

 toos, or subfamily Plyctolophina^ Vigors, represent- 

 ing the Rasorial Order, in the circle of the Psittacidse. 

 It contains, besides the true Cockatoos, distinguished 

 by their white or light coloured plumage, the vari- 

 ous black or dark coloured birds belonging to the 

 genus Calyptorynchus, Vigors, which we here desig- 

 nate Geringores. a name given to some of the species 

 by the natives of New Holland, in which interesting 

 country they are chiefly met with. The birds of 

 this division are among the largest of the Parrot 

 tribe, and most of them, in a greater or less degree, 

 are crested. The bill in the Geringore group, though 

 short, and nearly concealed by the projecting fea- 

 thers of the face, is remarkable for its strength and 

 depth at the base. In addition to seeds, they are 

 said to feed upon the roots of bulbous plants. In 

 disposition, the birds of this subfamily are generally 

 wilder and less tractable than many of the other 

 groups of the Psittacidse, They breed in the holei 

 of decayed trees, and their eggs are seldom more 

 than two in number. The first group we have to 

 notice is that of the genus Plyctolophus, Vieillot, 

 of which the characters are : Bill deep at the 

 Base, greatly arched and strong, the upper mandible 

 forming nearly the fourth part of a circle, the tip 



