1868.] ON VENEZUELAN BIRDS. 165 



species, P. formosxis and P. occidentalis, from which we may infer 

 he does not intend, in his snceeediug yet unpublished volume, 

 to give Geopsitfacus as a distinct genus. 



If external markings and colour reveal affinity, then Geopsit- 

 tacus, Pezoporus, and Striyops are nearly allied. Osteological cha- 

 racters come to divide the two former from the latter. 



While admitting that the shorter tail, rather stouter body, and the 

 want of the red frontal band sufficiently define G. occidentalis from 

 P. /onnosus specifically, these points, I am inclined to believe, are 

 not of sufficient value or equal import when considered generically. 



Admitting that the nocturnal habits of Geopsittacus vary from 

 those of Pezoporus, this itself would throw the balance in favour 

 of its separation as a genus. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Flower I have been enabled to 

 compare the sternum of the latter with the forn]er bird. Excepting 

 the relation of size, Pezoporus being the smaller and altogether the 

 more slender of the two, there is essentially no difference in structure. 



In the genus Platycercus, altogether a group of ground-loving 

 birds, there is a close resemblance to the two last-spoken-of forms ; 

 but they diifer not only in colour, but structurally, as regards the 

 steriuim and other anatomical characters. 



Of Strigops that intense similarity in outward aspect to Geo- 

 psittacus and Pezoporus is outweighed when its osteology is com- 

 pared. Yet, notwithstanding its almost keelless sternum, I cannot 

 help believing its real affinities are with the nocturnal Parrakeet, and 

 that some intermediate form may one day be found. 



Platycercus and Strigops are the extremes of a Psittacine group 

 (it maybe subfamily). Pezoporus, including Geopsittacus under that 

 genus, is the central type of the same group. 



3. Ou Venezuelan Birds collected by Mr. A. Goering. By 



P. L. ScLATER, M.A., F.R.S., and Osbert Salvin^ F.L.S. 



—Part I. 



(Plate XIII.) 



Mr. Anton Goering, of Saxe-Altenburg, who accompanied Dr. Bur- 

 mai&ter &?, preparateur during his travels through La Plata, left Eng- 

 land, in September 1866, to collect objects of natural history in 

 Venezuela. Mr. Goering reached Carupano (via Trinidad) on the 

 30th of November of the same year. From Carupano he made 

 an excursion of several months into the interior, visiting Caripe, 

 several caves inhabited by the Guacharo (Steatornis caripensis) in 

 that neighbourhood, and Pilar, and collecting extensively. Unfortu- 

 nately a large part of these collections were lost by an accident 

 during his return back to Carupano. From Carupano Mr. Goering 

 proceeded to Caraccas, where he arrived in the latter part of last 

 summer. 



