It is the second aberrant group of the family, representing the tenuirostral tribe of the Insessores, and consequently is analogous to the order Grallatores in the class Aves; and to the Glires among the Mammalia. In conformity with these analogies, the existence of which have been traced and followed out in various departments of zoology, with such perspicuity and convincing force, by one of the first naturalists of the age,* we find the habits as well as the structure of the birds composing it, deviating in a striking manner from those of the conterminous groups, of course most conspicuously so, in such as constitute the typical or representative forms. The difference of structure to which we allude is in the shape of the bill and tongue, the former member being weaker and slenderer in its proportions than in the other Parrots, especially as regards the under mandible, which is lengthened and less convex in its contour, with the tip contracted and narrow, and the tomia or cutting edges straight and without emargina-tion; the inner surface of the overhanging point of the upper mandible, which in the other groups is rough and like a file, with lines crossing each other at right angles, to give them a firm hold of nuts or seeds, is smooth or nearly so, and the ridge opposing the tip of the under mandible, which in the typical Parrots is prominent and strongly marked, is but slightly indicated or altogether wanting in the Lo-riancu, as are also the prominences of the palatialbones, which assist so essentially in comminuting the food of the other groups. Their tongue is not so thick or fleshy, and the tip, instead of being smooth and soft, is rough, and in some furnished with a pencil of setaceous papillae or bristles, similar and analogous to the filamentous tongues of the tenuirostral Melliphagidae. This structure, in fact, is bestowed upon them for the same purpose, and performs a similar office, viz. that of extracting the nectar of flowers, and sucking the juices of tender fruits, which it appears constitute the principal support of the members of this beautiful division. Of the various genera belonging to the subfamily, besides the true Lories, we may enumerate all the acknowledged members of the genus Trichoglossus of Vigors and Horsf., which also seem to enter among its typical forms, and included among these, or at least in very close connexion, are the birds belonging to that group, named by Mr Vigors Broto-geris, and typified by the Orange-winged Parrakeet of authors. Another interesting form belonging to it, and which appears to keep up a connexion with the genus Palaeornis of the Maccaw subfamily, is the Charmosyna Papuensis of Wagler (Psittaccus Pa-puensis, Auct.), whose tail, in shape, is nearly similar to that of Palceornis Alexandri, hut the ground or prevailing colour of its plumage is assimilated to that of the true Lories, and is of a rich and vivid scarlet. Besides the forms above enumerated, there are others of a diminutive size, chiefly inhabiting the islands of the Pacific, which appear closely allied to the Lo-rianae, and which, in all probability, will be found to enter that subfamily; most of these were included by Kuhl, in his section or genus Psittacula, a group apparently established to receive all the smaller Parrots, without regard to geographic distribution, or the peculiar characters exhibited by the various individuals composing it, and consequently forming an assemblage purely artificial. Want of materials to institute the necessary analysis, as well as a deficiency of information respecting the natural habits of many of these birds, precludes us at present from entering more fully into their true affinities, or speaking with more confidence of the situations they respectively hold; but we have no hesitation in at once admitting into the present division, that group which embraces the Psittacus porphyrio of Shaw; the Psittacula Kuhlii of Vigors, and several others, of which Wagler has constituted his genus Cori-philus.

We commence our illustrations of this subfamily with examples of the genus Lorius, which may be characterized as follows: - Bill moderate, compressed, the inner side of the tip of the upper mandible smooth; the under mandible lengthened, conic, with the tip narrow and entire. Tongue tubular, silky. Tail of moderate length, rounded or graduated, the feathers broad, with obtuse tips. Legs stout. For the present, we arrange under this genus all the Scarlet-coloured Lories, natives of continental India and its islands, but whose distribution does not extend so far south as Australia. It is, however, probable that this group will require further division, and that most of the genera indicated by Wagler in his Monograph will hereafter be adopted. The structure and comparative weakness of the bill of these birds, plainly indicate that the nature of their food must be different in quality from that of the powerful billed Parrots, and accordingly we find, that soft fruits, as well as the juices of flowers, constitute their principal support. They are closely connected in affinity with that group of which Psittacula Kuhlii, Vigors, is a type, and with the Lorikeets or genus Trichoglossus, Vigors, which occupy their place in Australia and the islands of the Pacific. In the breadth, and the rounded tips of their tail feathers, may also be traced an approach to the broad-tails or subfamily Platycercinae, with which a connexion is thus sustained. In disposition they are lively, but mild and tractable, and when domesticated, fond of being caressed. The call-note of many of the species is similar in sound to the name they usually go by, and some of them learn to speak with great distinctness. Our first figure represents the Lorius domicellus.