PSITTACID.E. 255 



2nd. Loriince or Lories. — Of small or moderate size, and 

 usually very rich and gaudy plumage ; some have the tail short 

 and square, others have it rounded or graduated. 



3rd. PalcBornince or Parrakeets. — These have the tail generally 

 long and wedge-shaped, and are found in the tropical and sub- 

 tropical regions of the old world, and are well developed in India 

 and Malayana. 



4th. PlatycercincB or Australian Parrakeets. — Formerly included 

 with the Palceorni7i(2, and to which the PezopJiorincB and Nymphicince 

 of the same continents also appear to belong as subordinate types. 



5th. AraincB, the Maccaws. Of large size and most gorgeous 

 plumage, pecuHar to America. 



6th. Cacatuince, or the Cockatoos of Australia and the neigh- 

 bouring islands ; and lastly, Nestorince, of Australia, which are of 

 large size, and usually of sombre colour, and which Bonaparte 

 places in his Psittacince. The remarkable genus Strigops of New 

 Zealand has much the appearance of an Owl, and is said to be noc- 

 turnal in its habits. It is ranged by some as a distinct family, bat 

 appears to approach some of the members of the Nestorine group 



Sub-fam. PAL^ORNiNiE, Vigors. 



Bill moderate ; upper mandible moderately hooked ; under 

 mandible short ; tail very long, wedge-shaped, the feathers narrow 

 and pointed ; tarsus moderate. 



The sub-family of Parrakeets is peculiar to the Eastern 



hemisphere, being found in the tropical regions of Africa and Asia, 



extending to the temperate region in Australia. They are of 



moderate or small size, and many of them feed frequently, and 



indeed some habitually, on the ground, on grain and small seeds, 



but they also eat fruit. Their plumage is pleasing, without being 



gaudy. Some of them were known to the ancients, one, or 



perhaps more species having been brought to Europe from the east 



by Alexander. 



Gen. Pal^ornis, Vigors. 



Char. — Bill short, culmen rounded, well curved, toothed, and 

 with the tip acute, not much deeper than it is long ; lower man- 

 dible short ; wings long, with the 2nd and 3rd quills sub-equal 



