82 THE GUINEA PARROT. 



above, near the ends blue, and beneath of a dull red. The legs are 

 brown, and the claws black. 



This Macaw, a native of Jamaica, Guiana, and the Brazils, is as 

 beautiful as it is rare ; and it is still more interesting, from its social 

 and gentle disposition. It soon becomes familiar with persons whom 

 it sees frequently, and it seems delighted in 

 receiving and returning their caresses. But it 

 lias an aversion to strangers, and particularly 

 to children; for it flies at, and sometimes 

 attacks them with great fury. 



The Green Macaw is exceedingly jealous ; it 

 becomes enraged at seeing a young child 

 sharing its mistress's caresses and favors; it 

 tries to dart at the infant ; but, as its flight is 

 short and laborious, it can only exhibit its 

 displeasure by gestures and restless move- 

 ments, and continues to be tormented by these 



-11 11 111 11 11-1 OREIN MACAW. 



fits till she leaves the child, and takes the bird 



on her finger. It is then overjoyed, murmurs satisfaction, and some- 

 times makes a noise resembling the laugh of an old person. Nor 

 •can it bear the company of other Parrots ; and if one be lodged in 

 the same room it seems to enjoy no comfort. 



It eats almost every article of human food. It is particularly fond 

 of bread, beef, fried fish, pastry, and sugar. It cracks nuts with its 

 bill, and picks the kernel out dexterously with its claws. It does 

 not chew the soft fruits; but it sucks them by pressing its tongue 

 against the upper part of the beak: and the harder sorts of food, such 

 as bread and pastry, it bruises or chews, by pressing the tip of the 

 lower mandible upon the most hollow part of the upper. 



Like all the other Parrots, the Green Macaw uses its claws with 

 great dexterity ; it bends forward the hinder toe to lay hold of the 

 fruits and other things which are given it, to carry them to its bill. 

 The Parrots employ their toes, nearly in the manner as Squirrels and 

 Monkeys do their fore paws ; they also cling and hang by them. There 

 Is another habit common to the Parrots : they never climb or creep 

 without fastening by the bill ; with this they begin, and they use 

 their feet only as secondary instruments of motion. 



THE GUINEA, OR LITTLE RED-HEADED PARROT. 



The general color of the Guinea Parrot is green ; its bill, chin, and 

 fcrehead are. red; and the rump is blue. 



In size but little larger than the Lark, and in brilliancy of plumage 

 exceeded by few of its tribe, this pleasing bird claims our greatest 

 admiration. In a native state it is found amidst the forests of Guinea, 

 and also in Ethiopia, Java, and the East Indies, where immense flocks 

 of them are seen. In these countries they often commit as much de- 

 vastation amongst he corn and fruit, as Sparrows do in Europe. 



The trading vessels from these countries seldom fail to bring with 



