TIIK DUAZIt.IAN GKKrX 5IACCAW. 353 



which he saw in tho pahico of the Duko of Mantua. It is said to be also less easily 

 reclaimed as a domestic bird ; yet, says a naturalist, " we have not seldom enjoyed tho 

 society of a very fine example which makes its way familiarly (such is its custom in 

 the alternoon) amid the varied horticidtural produce which graces the dessert of Mr. 

 Neill." Many other splendid species are described and figured in the works of 

 naturalists. 



THE BLUE AND YEU.O^\■ M \CCA\V.* 



This beautiful species is rather inferior in size to the great scarlet maccaw. In length, 

 it measures about thirty-nine inches, the tail alone being about twenty-four. The bill is 

 entirely black, very large and strong ; the upper mandible measuring, from the forehead 

 to the tip, three inches and a quarter : it is greatly deflected, and bends immediately from 

 the base ; the upper mandible is short and massive, rapidly ascending, and describing 

 when closed a right angle \vith the upper. The cheeks are white, and nearly naked, with 

 three fine narrow strife of small black plumes beneath tlie e3'es. The irides are yellowish 

 white. Immediately beneath the under mandible is ft broad black band, extending 

 upwards to the ears, and encompassing the greater part of the naked white space. The 

 whole of the upper plumage is of a beautiful rich blue, passing into green upon the fore- 

 head, crown, rump, and some of the smaller wing-coverts. The greater quills and tail 

 are of a deeper tint, approaching to violet. The under surfaces of the wings and tail are 

 yellow. The sides of the nock, brea&t, and inferior parts of the bodj', are rich saffron 

 yellow. The legs and feet are blackish-gray, the scales defined bj' whitish lines. 



Like all the other members of the genus, it is a native of tropical America, and is met 

 with in the Brazils, particularly upon the banks of the river Amazon, in Guiana, and 

 Surinam. It prefers the woods, particularly such as occupy swampy grounds, and which 

 abound in a species of palm, upon whose fruit it principally subsists. It is said generally 

 to keep in pairs, though occasionally to assemble in large flocks, and when this is the 

 case, their imited screams are heard to a great distance. The dimensions and form of 

 their wings, and long cuneiform tail indicate a powerful and vigorous flight, and, accord- 

 ingly, we are informed that in this respect they are inferior to none of the tribe ; they 

 fly often at a high elevation, and accompanied by a variety of aerial evolutions, par- 

 ticularly before alighting, which is always upon the summits of the highest trees. They 

 deposit their eggs, which never exceed two in number, in the hollow trunks of decayed 

 trees, and generally have two broods in the year. Both sexes are reported to sit alter- 

 nately upon the eggs, and to be equally assiduous in cherishing and conveying food to the 

 young. "When taken at an early age, they are easily tamed, but their imitative powers 

 are not equal to those of the gray parrot, and it is seldom that they can be taught to 

 articulate clearly, or more than a few words. Their natural notes are very unpleasant to 

 the ear, consisting of loud and piercing screams, interrupted with hoarse croaking mur- 

 murs. Living specimens of this species are sometimes seen caged in England. A very 

 fine one was recently completely domesticated at Dr. Neill's, Canonmills, near Edinburgh, 

 and allowed the freedom of several apartments : when desirous of being noticed, it called 

 out " Robert,'' the name of its earliest master, very distinctly ; but it did not acquire 

 more than one other conventional sound. 



THE BRAZILI.\N GREEN MACCAW. f 



This Maccaw, a native of Jamaica, Guiana, and the Brazils, is as beautiful as it is rare. 

 It soon becomes familiar with pei'sons whom it sees frequently, and is pleased in receiving 



* Macioctrcus Aiaiaiina. t Psittaciis Sevcrus. — Linn. 



2 A 



