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CHAP. XVIII.J BIRDS. 329
Family 82.—NESTOEID^. (? 2 Genera, 6 Species.)
Neotropical
Sub-regions.
Neahctic
sub-kegions.
General Distribution.
Pal^arctic
sub-kegions.
Ethiopian
Sub-regions.
Oriental
Sub-regions.
Australian
Sub-regions.
The present family is formed to receive the genus Nestor (5
sp.), confined to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. Its affinities
are doubtful, but it appears to have relations with the American
Conuridse and the Australian Trichoglossidse. With it is placed
the rare and remarkable Dasyptilus (1 sp.), of New Guinea, of
which however veiy little is known.
Family 83.—STRINGOPID^. (1 Genus, 2 Species.)
Neotropical
Sl"B-REGI0NS.
Nearctic
Sub-regions.
General Distribution.
Pal^arctic
sub-iiegions.
Ethiopian
Sub-regions.
Oriental
sub-reoions.
Australian
Sub-regions.
This family contains only the curious owl-hke nocturnal
Parrot of New Zealand, Stringops habroptilus (Plate XIIL
Vol .1. p. 455). An allied species is said to inhabit the Chatham
Islands, if not now extinct.
General Remarks on the Distribution of the Psittaci.
Although the Parrots are now generally divided into several
distinct families, yet they form so well marked and natural a
group, and are so widely separated from all other birds, that
we may best discuss their peculiarities of geographical distri-
bution by treating them as a whole. By the preceding
enumeration we find that there are about 386 species of known
parrots, which are divided into 52 genera. They are pre-
eminently a tropical group, for although a few species extend
a considerable distance into the temperate zone, these are