THE GREAT GREEN MAG AW. 



385 



" When the coucourite trees have ripe fruit on them, they are covered with this magnificent 

 Parrot. He is not shy or wary ; you may take your blowpipe and a quiver of poisoned arrows, 

 and kill more than you are able to carry back to your hut. They are very vociferous, and, 

 like the common Parrots, rise up in bodies towards sunset and fly two and two to their places 

 of rest. It is a grand sight in ornithology to see thousands of Aras flying over your head, low 

 enough to let you have a full view of their flaming mantle. The Indians find the flesh very 

 good, and the feathers serve for ornaments in their head-dresses." 



The Blue and Yellow Macaw generally keeps in pairs, though, like the other species, it 

 will sometimes assemble in flocks of considerable size. When thus congregated, the Macaws 

 become very conversational, and their united cries are most deafening, and can be heard at a 

 great distance, as any one can understand who has visited a Parrot-house. In common with 



BLUE AND YELLOW MAC AW.- Am aiarauna. 



the other Macaws, this species is easily tamed, and possesses some powers of imitation, being 

 able to learn and repeat several words, or even phrases. It is not, however, gifted with the 

 extraordinary poAvers of speech which are so w r onderfully developed in the true Parrots, and 

 on account of its deafening cries is not an agreeable inhabitant of a house. 



The Macaws lay their eggs in the hollows of decaying trees, and are said to alter the size 

 and form of the hole to their taste by means of their powerful beaks, a feat which they cer- 

 tainly have the ability to perform. The eggs are never more than two, and there are generally 

 two broods in the season. Both parents assist in the duties of incubation. 



The GREAT GREEN MACAW, a very splendid species, with green body, scarlet a,nd blue 

 head, blue-tipped wings, and red and blue tail, is not so exclusively an inhabitant of the forest 



VOL. II. -49. 



