NOTES ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF SCANSORES. 
in other orders of birds, we shall find as great anomalies in anato- 
mical structure as there is between the Parrots and the remainder 
of Scansores ; in fact, among Scansores, we find an osteological 
structure differing from that of the other species in the same 
family. In Centropus phasianellus, we have a sternum with the 
lower edge of the keel curved, and the posterior: edge indented with 
two fissures only, although this bird cannot be placed otherwise 
than among the Cuckoos, the remainder of its anatomy, as well as 
its external form agreeing with them, and in the same particulars 
in which this bird differs from the Cuckoo does it agree with the 
Parrots. 
Some affinity may be supposed to exist between the Psittacide 
and the Raptores ; there is a similar form of bill. The palatine 
bones in Cirewtos brachydactylus have their lateral edges bent 
downwards ; the sternum of many species is not very dissimilar, 
and the feet of both are formed for either grasping trees or prey: 
The bony septum between the eyes is also generally nearly perfect 
in both. No bones of a Parrot differing in external appearance 
more than any other, namely, Strigops, have as yet been brought 
to England, but should the skeleton ever be obtained, it will pro- 
bably throw some additional light upon the arrangement of the 
group. It is curious, that in the three groups of birds which are 
generally placed first in an arrangement of the class, we find each 
including a group without posterior marginal fissures, thus : — 
Without Fissures. With Fissures. 
Hawks, Owls. 
Parrots. : Cuckoos, Turacus, and Rhamphastos. 
Humming Birds and Swifts. Goatsuckers and Kingfishers. 
On these grounds, therefore, I should be unwilling to separate the 
parrots from the other Scansores, and should arrange the whole 
group in the following order, beginning the arrangement of birds 
with the order Raptores : — 

