305 



FAMILY XXVIIL— PSITTACINiE. PARROTS. 



Bill short, bulging, very strong, deeper than broad, convex above and 

 below; upper mandible cerate at the base, its outline decurved, the sides 

 convex, the edges sharp, with an angular process, the tip trigonal, decurved, 

 elongated, acute; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the tip 

 thin-edged, rounded, or abrupt. Nostrils basal, round, open, in the cere. 

 Head very large; neck of moderate length; body compact. Feet short and 

 robust; tarsus short, scaly; toes stout, the outer directed backwards, the 

 third and fourth coherent at the base. Claws stout, curved, acute. Plumage 

 generally blended, but firm. Wings and tail various. Tongue short, fleshy, 

 rounded, or emarginate; oesophagus wide, with a large crop; stomach small, 

 muscular; intestine of moderate length; coeca small; cloaca globular. 



C OTL-UVILS 

 Genus I.— CENTURUS, Kuhl. PARAKEET. 



Bill short, very strong, bulging; upper mandible with the dorsal line 

 decurved, the sides convex, the edges ascending at the base, then direct, 

 with a deep notch, the tip decurved, acute; lower mandible very deep at the 

 base, with the dorsal line convex and ascending, the tip sharp-edged and 

 truncate. The nostrils basal, round. Feet short, stout; tarsus very short; 

 toes of moderate length, stout; claws strong, curved, acute. Plumage 

 blended, compact on the wings, which are long and pointed, with the second 

 quill longest. Tail long, cuneate. 



Vol. IV. 42 



