PLATYCERClN-iE. 
] 91 
scansorial order, but which is almost denied to the 
typical Parrots, whose movements upon a plain sur- 
face are to a great degree awkward, and constrained. 
This formation is carried to the greatest extent in 
the genus Pezoporus, Illiger (Ground Parrot), in 
which the tarsi and toes are long and slender, and 
the claws nearly straight, indicating those terrestrial 
habits from which it has derived its name. The 
Platycercincc are birds of elegant and graceful form, 
and their carriage and actions are in accordance with 
it, as they display an activity and liveliness of mo- 
tion far superior to that of the true scansorial spe- 
cies, and more in character with that of other birds. 
In richness and diversity of plumage, also, they yield 
to none of the tribe, whether we admire it in the 
varied hues of the genus Platycercus, or in those 
smaller species belonging to the genus Nanodes, 
Vigors, which have aptly been teimed miniature 
Maccaws. Most of the members of this division 
also shew a decrease in the power of flight, their 
wings being short and rounded, as indicated by the 
relative length of the quill-feathers. Not having a 
figure illustrative of the Madagascar species, which 
must be considered an interesting- form in this divi- 
sion, we commence with the genus Platycercus, Vi- 
gors and Horsfield. The characters are: — Bill 
rather short, deeper than long, the upper mandible 
with the culmen indistinct, broad and rounded, 
bulging on the sides, the tomia with a strong emar- 
gination or tooth, the under mandible short, very 
