1872.] MR. A. H. GARROD ON THE GENUS NESTOR. 78/ 



graphical distribution &c. In conclusion, I may add that the live 

 M. arctoides (=3/. brunneus) in the Society's Gardens, as far as I 

 could notice, does not in strictness sit on its tail (as Dr. Anderson 

 remarks) any more than do the three last mentioned somewhat longer- 

 tailed species. This appendage is necessarily thrust to one side 

 of the buttocks ; and whether long or short its root is consequently 

 liable to be rubbed and chafed. The shorter it is, the curl or twisting 

 to the side is less apparent, though, on close watching, manifest. 



9. Note on the Tongue of the Psittacine genus Nestor. 

 By A. H. Garkod, F.Z.S., Prosector to the Society. 



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 Trichoglos- 

 since, though the author states that he is not possessed of any very 

 precise information on the subject. 



Mr. Gould, iu his 'Birds of Australia' (vol. v. 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 1st 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, mention- 

 ing that this affinity was first shown by 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 connexion 

 with the upper and lower beak, any solid substance being held by 

 the tongue and upper beak, while the mandible is freed to give an- 

 other bite. 



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 appearing along the lower margin of the ante- 

 rior rounded surface. 



This unguis, or nail-like portion, appears to me further to resemble 

 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 substances. 



In the typical Parrots this unguis of the tongue is broader than 

 long, horny in texture, semicylindrokl, with its lateral margins ex- 

 tending up the sides of the organ and encroaching on the borders of 

 the superior surface for a short distance ; not imbedded at the sides 

 as is a nail. Its anterior border is nearlv straight. 



