A MONOGRAPH 
OF THE 
PSITTACIM, OR PARROT FAMILY, 
OF 
AUSTRALIA. 
Sub-family Maeroeireinse (Macaws). 
Genus POLYTELIS (Wagler). 
Derivation of Name .—noWeAijs (polytells), excellent. 
Generic Characters .—Bill thickish; upper mandible, culmen rounded, tomia distinctly toothed ; 
under mandible, wide, short, and toothed. Wings, mean length—three first feathers the longest and 
nearly equal, the second and third, however, slightly longer than the first; second and third quils 
dilated near the middle and tapering towards the apex. Tail very long, cuneated, feathers narrow, two 
middle ones more slender than the others and considerably longer; tips rounded. Feet—tarsi longer 
than hallux. Tarsi and toes more elongated and slender; the beak, and especially the upper mandible, 
smaller and shorter than in the genus Palseornis of Mr. Vigors, in which the birds now to be described 
were first classed. 
I have placed this genus under- the sub-family of Macaws (Macrocirdtue■), in accordance with the 
systems of Messrs. Selby and Swainson, rather than allying them with the Broad-tailed or Ground 
Parrakeets, as I find is done by Mr. Wood in his book on birds and by Mr. Gray of the British 
Museum. Any one who looks at them as they adorn our bush will soon see that their general 
appearance and their modes of life are very different from the Platycercinse, though it is also apparent 
that in some respects they approach that family. I therefore think that they may be looked on as the 
connecting link between the Macaws and the broad-tailed sub-family, though belonging to the former. 
