76 
HISTORY OF THE PARROTS. 
Psittacus, has taken a higher rank in the natural sys- 
tem, anti has been placed upon an equality with groups 
of a similar value, under the denomination of Family , 
subordinate to which are other less comprehensive 
circles or assemblages of species, the next in extent 
being that of Sub-family. Of groups of the latter 
denomination, the five following have been indicated 
by Mr Swainson, whose views in this primary divi- 
sion of the family we are inclined to prefer to that 
formerly proposed by Mr Vigors, in the second vo- 
lume of the Zoological Journal, as being more in 
accordance with the natural affinities, structure, and 
economy of the species ; and though a stricter exa- 
mination and analysis is still required to ascertain 
the precise situation of species whose history is but 
little known, we have sufficient to mark the proper- 
ties and peculiarities which distinguish these primary 
groups. 
The first is that of Macrocercina, and is composed 
of the splendidly attired Maccavis, all of which are 
confined to America, as well as the nearly allied 
forms now distinguished by the generic titles of 
Arara, Aratinga, and Psittacara. In this division 
also we place a group of Birds belonging to the an- 
cient Continent, viz. the genus Pulceornis, Vigors. 
Instead of considering it, as he does, the type of a 
subfamily, this division constitutes one of the nor- 
mal, or, according to Mr Swainson, the subtypical 
group of the family, and is analogous to the denti- 
rostral tribe of the Insessores, and consequently, in 
