Page 787. 
114 THE TONGUE OF THE PSITTACINE GENUS NESTOR. 
17. NOTE ON THE TONGUE OF THE PSITTACINE 
GENUS NESTOR* 
On the death of a specimen of Nestor hypopolius in the Society’s 
Gardens, a short time ago, Mr. Sclater kindly directed my attention 
to the peculiarity of its tongue, and referred me to Dr. Finsch’s work 
on the Parrots, where Nestor is placed among the Trichoglossinw, though 
the author states that he is not possessed of any very precise informa- 
tion on the subject. 
Mr. Gould, in his “ Birds of Australia ” (vol. 5, plate VI), partly 
describes the tongue of this bird, and shows that it is not that of a 
Lory; but he has omitted to note its chief peculiarity. 
Dr. Buller, in the recently published first part of his “ Birds of 
New Zealand,” has also described the tongue quite correctly, though 
not much in detail—but nevertheless places Nestor close to the Lories, 
mentioning that this affinity was first shown gf MM. Blanchard and 
Pelzeln. 
As, however, the tongue of Nestor does not in reality resemble 
that of the Trichoglossi at all, it may be of interest to describe it more 
fully. 
As far as I have had opportunity of observing, in all Parrots 
the fleshy tongue ends anteriorly by a dilated portion, supported on a 
narrower neck. This tip is much like the end of a human finger, as 
mentioned by most observers: and its function is similar also; for 
it is employed by the bird as a third prehensile organ in connection 
with the upper and lower beak, any solid substance being held by 
the tongue and upper beak, while the mandible is freed to give another 
hite. 
Continuing the simile of the finger, the tip is directed forwards 
with the nail-like portion downwards, the part corresponding to the 
free edge of the nail ene along the lower margin of the anterior 
rounded surface. 
This unguis, or nail-like portion, appears to me further to re- 
semble a nail in that its anterior edge is not quite regular and is free, 
while the posterior margin is continuous with the neighbouring 
epithelium, which is almost enough to show that it grows forwards, 
and is worn down, as is a nail, by constant contact with foreign sub- 
stances. 
* “Proceedings of the Zoological Society,’ 1872, pp. 787-9. Read, June 18, 
1872. 
