.^ 



270 Mr. ViGORs's and Dr. Horsfield's Description of the 



nearly an equal length and similar construction to that of the 

 true Psittacus^j which immediately precedes the present sub- 

 family. While Cahjptorhyndtus is allied to the Maccaws in the 

 characters of this member, and thus evinces a higher develope- 

 nient than Phjctohplms of the typical peculiarities of the family. 

 The culmen of the upper mandible is considerably curved and 

 bent inwards at the apex ; in some species when viewed in pro- 

 file it has a semilunar appearance. The under mandible is 

 much more dilated also than it is in Pli/ctolophus. In most 

 specimens which we have seen of this genus the shafts of the 

 tail-feathers are prolonged beyond the webs ; a peculiarity 

 which seems to indicate something distinctive in the economy of 

 the birds. From all the accounts we have received of them they 

 seem much less gregarious than the birds of the conterminous 

 genus. The group appears to be confined to Australia. The 

 black colour that prevails through these birds separates them 

 also at first sight from the species of Plyctolophus, which are 

 generally white. The species of the latter genus, which has 

 been just enumerated in our catalogue, PL Eos, and the Caly- 

 ptorhynclms galeatus, which will be presently noticed, both of 



* The group of the Psittacidtv, to which the name of Psittaciis should be apphed, 

 may perhaps be considered to be that which comprises the Psitt. Amuzonii:us, Briss., 

 and some alhed species. That at least is the group best known under the old scientific 

 term, and at the same time under the familiar names of Parrot in our language, and 

 Perroquet in the French, which correspond with it. In general, when we subdivide 

 a group, we ought to retain the original name for that subdivision of it which contains 

 the typical species. There are instances, however, where this mode cannot well be fol- 

 lowed, as when the typical species have already been distinguished by generic names. 

 This happens to be the case in the group before us, the typical species of which were 

 the first that were separated by distinct names. These have long been called Macro- 

 ccrciis and PJi/ctolophiis, or more familiarly Maccaws and Cockatoos ; and we cannot 

 venture to disturb these established names, even for the sake of scientific correctness. 

 Tlie most eligible rule, next to that of selecting the typical species for the original name, 

 is probably that of selecting the species to which it has been most familiarly applied. 



Avhich 



