260 ON THE ANATOMY OF THE PARROTS. 
Tt will be noticed that no Parrots with normal carotids occur in 
the New World: and, as far as I know, none but members of that 
group have red beaks. 
P.S. (December 8th, 1874).—On the 25th of last month, from the 
death of one of the specimens of Stringops habroptilus, recently pur- 
chased by the Society, I have had an opportunity of dissecting a. 
third individual of the species. In it the ambiens muscle is complete, 
of fair size, at the same time that it crosses the knee as in Psittacus. 
This makes me feel more convinced that the arrangement indicated 
by the dotted portions of the diagram plates accompanying this com- 
munication is the correct one, and that the main stem has given rise 
to three instead of two branches—the Stringopine being the nearest 
representatives of the ancestral form, some of its members (Geopsitta- 
cus, Melopsittacus, Buphema, and Oyanorhamphus) having quite re- 
cently lost, whilst Stringops itself is just now on the point of losing 
the ambiens muscle. It is, however, quite possible, if external 
resemblances and geographical distribution are left out of considera- 
tion, that Stringops must stand as the sole representative of the 
Stringopinez, thus conforming with generally received ideas; and that 
Geopsittacus, together with Melopsittacus, Euphema, and Oyanorham- 
phus, rust be placed with Agapornis as part of the family Agaporni- 
thine, in which the formula is 2, —, —, +. The close external 
resemblance between Stringops and Geopsittacus nevertheless makes 
me indisposed to adopt this view. 
