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GENUS PLATYCERCUS. 
convex, deeply emarginate, with the tip broad, short, 
and quadrate. Palatial cutters large, and fully de- 
veloped. Tongue simple, smooth. Wings of mean 
length, rounded, the first quill considerably shorter 
than the second and third, which are the longest, 
and nearly equal, the second, third, fourth, and fifth 
with their external webs abruptly emarginated a little 
behind the middle. Tail broad and depressed, 
rounded or subgraduate, the feathers with their tips 
rounded. Feet with the tarsi elevated and slender. 
Toes slender, claws rather long and slightly falcated. 
The species belonging to this beautiful genus are 
already very numerous, and additions are constantly 
being made to it, as our knowledge of New Holland 
is extended, of which interesting country the ma- 
jority of those already discovered are natives. They 
are of active habits, and are usually seen in large 
flocks, except during the period of reproduction. 
They feed upon seeds, particularly upon the grasses 
and Cerealea, and frequently do much damage in re- 
cent settlements to the ripening as well as to the 
new sown maize and wheat. The first species we 
have to notice is considered by Mr Vigors as the 
type of the genus : it is the 
