230 Conspectus of Indian .Ornithology. [No. 3. 



1. P. Alexandri (Edwards, pi. 292). 

 Syn. Psittacus Alexandri, L. 



Ps.eupatria,L. } the female. 



Psittaca ginginiana, Brisson. J 



Psittacus guinneensis, Scopoli (nee guineensis, Gmelin). 



Ps. Sonneratii, Gmelin. 



Palceornis nipalensis, Hodgson, As. Res. XIX. 177. 



pines, Moluccas, and Borneo. The fifth very recently comprised two species, one in 

 N. Zealand, the other — already extinct — in the islet called Philip island near Norfolk 

 island (the fauna and flora of which islands ally them chiefly with N. Zealand). 

 The sixth, consisting of but one known species rapidly verging upon extinction (the 

 crepuscular and Owl-like Strigops habroptilus, G. R. Gray), is also a N. Zea- 

 lander. 



2. Platycercin^e (or ground Parrakeets). Inhabiting N. Holland, with a few 

 outlying species of Platycercus only in N. Zealand and Polynesia proper, and one 

 Aprosmictus extending its range to N. Guinea. This group is nearly affined to the 

 preceding one, but has a remarkable structural distinction from all other birds in the 

 absence of bony clavicles, which in the rest of the Psittacidce (as in almost throughout 

 the class) are united to form the furcula or " merry-thought" bone. The members 

 of both of these sub-families are mainly eaters of grain and other farinaceous seeds, 

 but some of the Cockatoos feed also largely on bulbs, and the Calyptorhynchi partly 

 on large insect larvse. 



3. Arinje (or Maccaw group). Chiefly S. American, one small species only 

 occurring in the proximate regions of N. America ; but with a subordinate division in 

 S. E. Asia and its archipelago, Africa, and Australia, comprising the genera Palaor- 

 nis, Tanygnathus, and Agapornis, with Prioniturus (which would seem to be inter- 

 mediate to the first and second), in the former regions, and Polytelis in the last 

 named. This eastern subgroup is less frugivorous than the western ; and all would 

 appear to be birds of vigorous flight, an attribute in which the whole family has been 

 supposed deficient. 



4. Psittacin^e (or ordinary Parrots). Chiefly S. American, with a few species 

 in Africa and Madagascar, and a particular division comprehending Eclectics and 

 Loriculus in S. E. Asia and its archipelago. N. B. This and the foregoing group 

 are affined, and the species are, in general, much more frugivorous than the members 

 of the two preceding subfamilies, and the Psittacina more so than the Arince; but 

 the great majority feed also on hard grain. 



5. Loriin^e (or Lories). Peculiar to the Austral-asian archipelago, with Papua, 

 Australia, and Polynesia. This subfamily is particularly distinguished by the pecu- 

 liar structure of the tongue (varying somewhat in different genera), which is adapted 

 for extracting the nectar from flowers ; the species also feed upon soft fruits, but 

 never on grain, and the beak is proportionally feeble. 



