PEZOPOKINiE. 
N.novcB hollandim (Gmel.) Wagl. Lear's Parr. pi. 27- — Calo- , Zool. 111. n. s. pi. 112., Nat. Libr. Parr. pi. 30., Gould, B. of 
psitta Guy Less. 111. Zool. t. 112.; Leptolophus auricomis Swains. \ Austr. pi. 
CoRACopsis JVagl.* 
Bill large, with the culmen rounded and much curved to the tip, which is long and acute ; the lateral 
margins nearly entire and curved ; the lower mandible longer than deep, with the gonys much curved 
uj) wards to the tip, and rounded ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and placed in the rounded cere, near the 
culmen. Wings long, with the second quill the longest. Tail long, broad, and slightly rounded. 
Tarsi short, strong, and covered with small scales. Toes long and strong, Avith the anterior outer toe 
rather the longest ; the claws moderate and curved. 
The two species of this genus are found in Madagascar and South Africa. 
1. C. muscarina (Briss.) Wagl. Pi. enl. 3.5. , | 2. C. nigra (Linn.) Wagl. Edwards's Birds, pi. 5., Le Vaill. 
I Perr. t. 81, 82 Psittacus obscurus Bechst. ; P. vaza Shaw. 
Platycercus Vigors. f 
Bill moderate, with the sides swollen, and the culmen rounded, and arched to the tip, which is rather 
obtuse ; the lateral margins curved and slightly dentated, or entire ; the gonys broad, rather biangular 
on the sides, and curved upwards ; the nostrils basal, lateral, exposed, and rounded, and placed in a 
small rounded cere near the culmen. Wings moderate and concave, with the first quill shorter than 
the second and third, which are nearly equal, and longest, and the webs of the first four quills suddenly 
dilated near the base. Tail lengthened, broad, and nearly even, or much graduated ; with the feathers 
towards the tip more or less narrowed, and rounded or pointed. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, 
and covered with minute scales. Toes moderate, much padded beneath, the outer anterior one the 
longest ; and the claws long, compressed, curved, and acute. 
The species are most numerous in Australia, and some ai"e found in New Zealand and New Guinea. They are 
usually seen in small groups of six to twenty in number. They always collect in large flocks when they migrate to a 
fresh locality in search of subsistence. As their principal food consists of grass seeds, it is most usual to observe them 
on the ground, walking about and searching among the blades of grass. Others also feed on fruits and berries, and 
attack the Indian corn as soon as it becomes ripe, as well as the young wheat, causing great destruction to the crops. 
When alarmed they generally fly to the branches of the nearest tree, remaining until the cause of their fear has 
disappeared. The eggs are deposited on the decayed wood, or on feathers, in holes formed in the trunks of rotten 
trees. They are generally four to six in number. 
* Established by Wagler in 1830 {Ahhandl. Akad. Miinchen, 1832, p. 501.). Muscarinus of M. Lesson (1831) and Vigorsia of Mr. 
Swainson (1837) are coequal. 
f It was in 1826 that Vigors established this genus {Zoological Journal, '\. 521 .). It embraces Aprosmictus (1842) and Psephotus 
(1845) of Mr. Gould. 
4 H 
