PSITTACI 



267 



has a broad basihyal with the* short angular processes which 

 suggest the more elaborate parahyals of the parrots. 



The classification of the parrots has been attempted by 

 more than one naturalist ; but, as Gadow has justly ob- 

 served, ' our knowledge of the anatomical structure of these 

 birds is at present t^oo incomplete in relation to their large 

 numbers.' ' | 



Gadow himself has practically divided them by the 

 structure of the tongue into two families, Trichoglossidse and 

 Psittacidae. In all the Trichoglossidse the orbital ring is 



FiQ. 133. — Hyoid of Lorius domicella (ai-tek Mivart). Lbtteks 

 AS IN Fig. 131. 



incomplete, and it is possible that the remarkable structure 

 of the hyoid, described above, may serve to distinguish this 

 family. The first family contains only Nestor, the lories, 

 Gyclopsittacus, and Lathamus ; but the two latter are very 

 imperfectly known. The remaining genera are relegated to 

 the second family. 



Gabrod's arrangement of the group, anterior to that of 

 Gadow's in point of time, is based upon the variations of 

 the ambiens, oil gland, furcula, and carotids. The facts, 

 with a few others added, are displayed in the following 

 table : — 



