PSITTACUS ERITHACUS, Linn, 



(The Common Grey Parrot.) 

 By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY. 



The genus Psittacus was established by Linnseus in 1725 (' Systema 

 Naturee'). Gray, in his ' Genera,' vol. ii., thus describes it: — " Bill large 

 and rather compressed, with the culmen biangular and much arched to the 

 tip, near which the lateral margin is strongly emarginated, that of the under 

 mandible much sinuated, and the anterior part sharply edged ; the gonys 

 advancing upwards and angular ; the nostrils basal and lateral, with the 

 opening small and rounded. Wings mostly reaching to the end of the tail, 

 with the first quill nearly as long as the second and third, which are the 

 longest. Tail short and even. Tarsi very short and covered with small 

 scales. Toes long, the lateral ones equal, and all covered with small scales ; 

 the claws short and slightly curved." 



Dr. Otto Finsch gives (' Die Papageien,' vol. ii.) : — " Pterylosis (after 

 Nitzsch) quite different from the American Chrysotis, which agrees more 

 with Conurus and Domicella ; the uropygial gland is present, which is wanting 

 in Chrysotis ; the sterna are alike in both ; the lateral aperture is present, 

 but small, and in one specimen absent. The orbital ring is not closed the 

 same as is the case in Eclectus grandis, E. polychlorus, &c. The skeleton of 

 Parrots comes nearest to that of Rapaces, except in the arrangement of the 

 toes, which is two in front and two behind." 



Of the African species Psittacus erithacus (which I may perhaps call the 

 type of the Parrots, though this word is not defined) little appears to be 



