134 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXIV, 
measures less than three-fourths (but much more than one-half) of the 
second. Turniz (T. nigricollis and T. ocellata) agrees with the latter. 
The condition of this covert in the Psittaci is of particular interest as I 
believe it will prove of some assistance in the difficult problem of classifica- 
tion in this group. In the Cockatoos (Cacatoés,! Eolophus,? Licmetis and 
Leptolophus') and in Stringops the first covert is normal in size, form and 
texture. In all other Parrots examined it is decidedly less than three- 
fourths the length of the second, often less than one-half, and is sometimes 
reduced to a mere tuft of down not one-third the second covert in length. 
This last stage is reached in Charmosyna, Ara, Conurus and Conuropsis, and 
the feather is nearly or quite as vestigial in Trichoglossus, Vini, Anodo- 
rhynchus, Brotogeris, Pionus, Pionites, Poicephalus, Psittaculaand Myropsitta. 
In Amazona, Rhynchopsitta, Psittacus, Paleornis, Agapornis, Aprosmictus 
(Ptistes auct.), Alisterus (Aprosmictus auct.), Tanygnathus and Melopsittacus 
the reduction is carried not quite so far, and in none of them is the covert 
completely downy. It is least reduced in Coracopsis, Pezoporus, Platycercus, 
Psephotus, Eos, Lorvus and Nestor, being considerably more than half as 
long as the second, less vestigial in structure, and firm, not downy, ter- 
minally. Between these several groups of species, there is, however, com- 
plete intergradation in the size and form of this covert. 
It is obvious that the Cockatoos and the Owl Parrot branched off from 
the early Psittacine stem before the reduction in the first primary covert 
1 As stated by Mathews (Novitates Zoologice, Vol. XVIII, pp. 11-13, 1911) Cacatua 
Vieillot and Calopsitta Lesson must be replaced respectively by Cacatoés Dumeril and Lepto- 
lophus Swainson on the grounds of priority. I cannot agree, however, with the contention 
that Probosciger Kuhl and Conurus Kuhl should be superseded by Solenoglossus Ranzani and 
Aratinga Spix. Though the older names were merely given to ‘‘sections’’ these are equiva- 
lent to subgenera and there seems to be no reason why they should not be accepted as such. 
2'The Rose Cockatoo, Cacatoés roseicapilla, is generically distinct from true Cacatoés, the 
proper name for the monotypic group being Holophus Bonaparte (Rev. et Mag. de Zool., 
1854, p. 155). The two genera differ conspicuously in the form of the wing and in coloration. 
In Folophus the crest is shorter and broader, approached but, I think, not equalled by certain 
species of Cacatoés. In Cacatoés the secondaries are very ample reaching nearly to the tip of 
the wing which is broad and truncate, the ninth primary equal to or shorter than the sixth. 
In Holophus the secondaries are shorter and smaller, and the terminal primaries are elongated 
resulting in a more pointed wing, the ninth quill much exceeding the sixth. 
All the species of Cacatoés are wholly white, the inner webs of the remiges and rectrices 
always tinged with yellow or red, the crest and parts of the body plumage often marked or 
tinged with these colors. In Eolophus the back, wings and tail are gray, crest whitish- 
pink, rump grayish-white and underparts raspberry-red. According to Garrod (P. Z. S., 
1874, p. 588) Holophus has two carotid arteries, while Cacatoés has but one, ae as Beddard 
records two present in both genera the number is in doubt. 
‘Reichenow divides the short-tailed Cockatoos into two genera according to the form of 
the crest. placing the Rose Cockatoo in true Cacatoés characterized by a broad-feathered 
crest, the species with narrow, recurved crest feathers standing as Lophochroa. As Eol ophus 
stands alone in form of the wing and in coloration this arrangement is certainly not a natural 
one. Mathews recognizes five segregates of the old genus Cacatoés, a degree of subdivision 
that to many will seem quite unnecessary. 
