IGJ DR. J. MURIE ON GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS. [Feb. 27, 



hindermost, aud the median smaller ones are outflanked by a consi- 

 derable broader ridge. 



As in the greater number of the genera of Parrots, the tongue 

 is bulbous, short, thick, and fleshy. 



Towards the root, at the chink of the glottis, I observed indica- 

 tions (the parts having been slightly injured in the operation of 

 skinning) of a transverse lappet or fringe, whose free posterior mar- 

 gin was tipped with papillary projections directed backwards. 



The aperture of the rima glottidis'is, comparatively speaking, short 

 and wide. The trachea, including its bronchial portion, measures 

 2' 7 inches in length : it is slightly wider at the top ; but the dimi- 

 nution in calibre is very gradual indeed until approaching the lower 

 larynx, where it is sensibly reduced in diameter. 



From the noiseless diurnal habits of Geopsittaciis it might be 

 supposed the larynx would offer some important variations from its 

 noisy coytfreres. True to its Psittacine character, however, it pos- 

 sesses the usual three pairs of lower laryngeal muscles, namely, two 

 tensors and one laxator on either side. Of these, in the specimen 

 under consideration, it appeared as if the laxator was unusually, or 

 at least well developed, while the uppermost tensor was rem.arkably 

 sparse in fleshy fibre. 



The digestive tract is truly Psittacine in its nature, as the follow- 

 ing description shows. 



The upper portion of the oesophagus and the crop unfortunately 

 were partially destroyed during the process of skinning. The proven- 

 triculus is moderately developed, and its glandular structure minute. 



The gizzard is roundish in outline and somewhat flattened antero- 

 posteriorly ; it is tolerably muscular, and has a broad central ten- 

 don. At its lower border (the part which corresponds with the 

 great flexure of the stomach in human anatomy) there is a deep 

 incision. The moiety which lies in front, or to the left side of the 

 duodenum, descends rather the lower of the two. The gizzard 

 is about 0'(i of an inch in its greatest diameter. Towards, but above 

 the pyloric aperture, where the intestine is given off, there is a 

 prominent bulging or sacculus. Internally the gizzard is lined with 

 a thick, soft, tough, white-coloured membrane, disposed in longitu- 

 dinal rugae. It contained only comminuted quartzy grit, but no 

 remains of food. 



The intestines have a total length of Ifj inches ; and their calibre, 

 which is but very moderate, has nearly a uniform diameter. 



As usual in the Psittacidce, cseci are absent. 



Tiie liver, kidneys, and other internal organs presented no points 

 of interest worth recording. 



Having thus anatomically described this, in some respects, aber- 

 rant form of Parrot, it remains to be considered whether its charac- 

 ters, external and internal, warrant its being retained as the type of 

 a separate genus, and what are its nearest allied forms. 



In his technical description, Mr. Gould leaves it open for natu- 

 ralists to adopt his generic name. M. Otto Finsch, in his recent 

 volume on the group of Parrots, gives the genus Fezoponis with two 



