PLATYCERCIN^E. 1 9 1 



scansorial order, but which is almost denied to the 

 typical Parrots, whose movements upon a plain sur- 

 face are to a great degree awkward, and constrained. 

 This formation is carried to the greatest extent in 

 the genus Pezoporus, Illiger (Ground Parrot), in 

 which the tarsi and toes are long and slender, and 

 the claws nearly straight, indicating those terrestrial 

 habits from which it has derived its name. The 

 Platycercince are birds of elegant and graceful form, 

 and their carriage and actions are in accordance with 

 it, as they display an activity and liveliness of mo 

 tion far superior to that of the true scansorial spe- 

 cies, and more in character with that of other birds. 

 In richness and diversity of plumage, also, they yield 

 to none of the tribe, whether we admire it in the 

 varied hues of tne genus Platycercus, or in those 

 smaller species belonging to the genus Nanodes, 

 Vigors, which have aptly been termed miniature 

 Maccaws. Most of the members of this division 

 also shew a decrease in the power of flight, their 

 wings being short and rounded, as indicated by the 

 relative length of the quill-feathers. Not having a 

 figure illustrative of the Madagascar species, which 

 must be considered an interesting form in this divi 

 siori, we commence with the genus Platycercus, Vi- 

 gors and Horsfield. The characters are: Bill 

 rather short, deeper than long, the upper mandible 

 with the culmen indistinct, broad and rounded, 

 bulging on the sides, the tomia with a strong emar- 

 gination or tooth, the under mandible short, very 



