AVES. 
75 
Micmthene is a new genus established for the reception of Athene lohitneyi 
(Cooper), having the middle toe and claw fully as long as the tarsus, and the 
wing not so much pointed, besides other peculiarities not so easily difleren- 
tiated. E. Coues, Proc. Acad, Philad. 18GG, p. 61. 
PSITTACI. 
Finsch, Otto. Die geograpliisclie Verbreitung der Papageien. 
Petermann^s Geograpliisclie Mittlieilungeii, 1867‘^", pp. 3-7, 
taf. i. 
The general results of the author^s studies (which will be more 
specially given in a Monograph, of which the first volume has_ 
since appeared) are here contained. Tie divides the group, 
which he looks upon as forming one family only, into five sub- 
families — String opiruB, Plictolophinm, Sittacinoi, Psittacinee, and 
Trichoglossinoi. The species known to him are, from America, 
142, Africa 23, Asia and the Sunda Islands 18, Moluccas 
and New Guinea 83, Australia 59, and Polynesia 29. Five 
excellent maps on one plate serve materially to elucidate the 
subject. 
Owen, R. Evidence of a species, perhaps extinct, of large 
Parrot (Psittacus mauritianus), contemporary with the Dodo 
in the Island of Mauritius. Ibis, 1866, pp. 168-171, figs. 
(Translated) Ann. Sci. Nat. Zoologie, 5“® ser. 1866, vi. 
pp. 88-90, pi. 3. figs. 4, 5. 
Among the Dodos^ bones found by Mr. Clark [vide infra Di- 
DiDA?) was part of the lower mandible of a large Psittacine bird, 
quite new to science, and named by the author as above. The 
specimen seems to show that the species equalled the largest of 
the group in size, and had nearer affinities to African and Aus- 
tralian than to New-World forms; the particular section of the 
group to which it belongs will probably be in time determined 
[vide infra Milne-Edwards, A.). Prof. Schlegel (N. T. D. iii. 
p. 318, note) considers P. to be founded upon a bone 
of Microglossa aterrima, which had been introduced by the 
Portuguese into the island. 
Milne-Edwards, Alphonse. Observations sur les caracteres 
osteologiques des principaux groupes de Psittacides, pour 
servir h la determination des affinites naturelles du Psittacus 
mauritianus. Ann. Sci. Nat. Zoologie, 5‘”® ser. 1866, vi. 
pp. 91-111, pis. 2, 3. 
The author, led by Prof. OweiPs suggestion, has examined the 
lower jaws of a large number of Psittaci, which are described at 
great length, figures of no less than eleven of the principal ge- 
nera being given in illustration of his remarks, and considers 
that P. mauritianus cannot be placed in any of the small genera 
* C/opies receive4 in England l)ec. 18GG, 
