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Show 164 OR. J. MURIE ON GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS. [Feb. 2/, hindermost, aud the median smaller ones are outflanked by a considerable broader ridge. As in the greater number of the genera of Parrots, the tongue is bulbous, short, thick, and fleshy. Towards the root, at the chink of the glottis, I observed indications (the parts having been slightly injured in the operation of skinning) of a transverse lappet or fringe, whose free posterior margin was tipped with papillary projections directed backwards. The aperture of the rima glottidish, comparatively speaking, short and wide. The trachea, including its bronchial portion, measures 2*7 inches in length : it is slightly wider at the top ; but the diminution in calibre is very gradual indeed until approaching the lower larynx, where it is sensibly reduced in diameter. From the noiseless diurnal habits of Geopsittacus it might be supposed the larynx would offer some important variations from its noisy confreres. True to its Psittacine character, however, it possesses the usual three pairs of lower laryngeal muscles, namely, two tensors and one laxator on either side. Of these, in the specimen under consideration, it appeared as if the laxator was unusually, or at least well developed, while the uppermost tensor was remarkably sparse in fleshy fibre. The digestive tract is truly Psittacine in its nature, as the following description shows. The upper portion of the oesophagus and the crop unfortunately were partially destroyed during the process of skinning. The proventriculus is moderately developed, and its glandular structure minute. The gizzard is roundish in outline and somewhat flattened antero-posteriorly ; it is tolerably muscular, and has a broad central tendon. At its lower border (the part which corresponds with the great flexure of the stomach in human anatomy) there is a deep incision. The moiety which lies in front, or to the left side of the duodenum, descends rather the lower of the two. The gizzrud is about 0*6 of an inch in its greatest diameter. Towards, but above the pyloric aperture, where the intestine is given off, there is a prominent bulging or sacculus. Internally the gizzard is lined with a thick, soft, tough, white-coloured membrane, disposed in longitudinal rugae. It contained only comminuted quartzy grit, but no remains of food. The intestines have a total length of 16 inches ; and their calibre, which is but very moderate, has nearly a uniform diameter. As usual in the Psittacidee, cseci are absent. The liver, kidneys, and other internal organs presented no points of interest worth recording. Having thus anatomically described this, in some respects, aberrant form of Parrot, it remains to be considered whether its characters, external and internal, warrant its being retained as the type of a separate genus, and what are its nearest allied forms. In his technical description, Mr. Gould leaves it open for naturalists to adopt his generic name. M. Otto Finsch, in his recent volume on the group of Parrots, gives the genus Pezoporus with two |