SCANSORES. 



219 



Fig. 105. — Sternnm of Parrot. 



Tlie Parrots have been arraiigert under many named subdivisions, the limits of which are mostly arbitrary, 

 thoug-h several very natural groups are tolerably distinct. 



First, among: the species with square tails, we may notice the great Black Cockatoos of Australia (Calyptoninchus, 

 Vig-.), large crested species, with beak of extraordinary strength, and very deep vertically. Their plumage is black, 

 with some red or yellow on the tail ; wings capable of vigorous flight ; and food the seeds of the Eucalypti, 

 with the juice of which fruit their bills are generally stained. Attempts to maintain them in captivity appear 

 to have always hitherto failed. The subdivision Corydon, Wagleri, is barely separable. 



The White Cockatoos (Plyctolophus, Vieillot), the species of which 

 inhabit the Indian Archipelago and Australia, fall into two minor 

 groups according to the form of the crest. Their disposition is sin- 

 gularly gentle and afl'ectionate, and several species are abundantly 

 brought alive to Europe, where they are kept with much facility. 

 Their singular antics and extraordinary grotesque movements are well 

 known to all. 



The square-tailed species without crests constitute the restricted 

 Parrots (Psittacus) of several authors, and are found in the old and new 

 continents. They are generally esteemed for the facility with which 

 they learn to speak ; and the majority are gaily coloured : it is neces- 

 sary, however, to subdivide them much further. One group, termed 

 Nestor, is remarkable for the extraordinary elongation of the upper 

 mandible, which far overhangs the lower : it is believed to be employed 

 in hooking up bulbs : the members of this division are essentially 

 crestless Cockatoos, allied to PI. nasicus, and are also natives of Aus- 

 tralia. 



The Love-birds {Psi/tacula, Kulil), compose a beautiful group of 

 species of diminutive size, wherein the tail is slightly graduated ; they 

 are found in both continents, and are remarkable for having no 

 furcula. 



The Ring Parroqnets (Palaornis, Vig.), have a very long pointed 

 tail, and collar-like mark round the neck ; they inhabit the Asiatic 

 continent and islands, where there are many species. 



Australia produces numerous long-tailed Parroquets with more elongated tarsi, adapted for running on the 

 ground ; their tail-feathers are not pointed, and their colours are in general gorgeously variegated, and peculiarly 

 mottled on the back. They constitute the Platycercus, Vig. and Horsf. Polyletes, Wagler, is allied, with pointed 

 tail-feathers; awl NympMcus reiex& io a. small species related to the latter, but with the pointed crest of some 

 Cockatoos. 



Tlie Maccaws (Am, Kuhl ; Macrocercus, Vieillot), are long-tailed American species, which exceed all the rest 

 in size, and are superbly coloured. The more characteristic have a large space of naked skin on the cheek, 

 crossed by narrow stripes of short feathers. This bare space is gradually lost as they successively decrease in 

 size, and they finally grade into the American Parroquets (Conurus, Kuhl), one species of which (Ps. caroUnenns, 

 Auct.) is the only member of the Parrot group found northward of the tropic of Cancer. 



The Lories (Lorius, Vieillot), — are oriental species with square tails, and dense soft plumage, the colours of 

 which are glowing in the utmost degree : beak in general comparatively feeble. Some allied birds are smaller, and 

 have graduated tails, but are particularly distinguished by their extensile tongue having a circle of papillae at the tip, 

 adapting them to feed on the nectar of flowers : they are termed Lorikeets (Trichoglossiis, Vigors). Tavygnathus, 

 Wagler, includes some Lories with immense bills ; and Coryphihis, a number of small species, with slender bills, 

 thick skin, and commonly purple colouring. Finally, Pezoporus, lUiger, and Nanodcs, Vig. and Horsf., consist of 

 some beautiful and delicate long-tailed species, which have also feeble bills, and tarsi somewhat elevated ; they 

 are known to seek their food chiefly on the ground.*] 



Among the Climbers are commonly placed two nearly allied African genera, which appear 

 to me to have also some analogy with the Gallinacecs, and with the Curassows in particular. 

 They have the wings and tail of the latter, [their tail, however, consisting of only ten feathers, 

 instead of fourteen], and like them inhabit trees ; their beak is short, and superior mandible 

 bulged, [or compressed and much elevated ; the ga})e remarkably wide] ; the feet have a 

 short membrane which connects the external and front toes, though it is true that the outer 

 toe is often directed backward, as observable in the Owls. Their nostrils are simply pierced 

 in the corneous substance of the beak, the cutting edges of the mandibles are dentelated, 

 and the sternum (fig. 106), at least that of the Touraco, has not those two very deep emar- 

 gbjations common to the Gallinacea. 



[Here we have another insulated group, which also comprises the Colies (p. 201), the anatomy of 



\ould enumerate some .additional subdi\istnns, but their distinsh/e rharaitcr* cimld not be ^'i- 



ih the requisite brevity 



