196 THE SPEAKING PARBOTS. 



one which lived fifteen years in the Zoological Garden at Frank- 

 fort. Dr. Frenzel, of Freiburg, had a couple which bred, but 

 they, unfortunately, did not succeed in rearing the young. This 

 bird is, on the whole, as great a favourite as the Small Macaw. 



CHAP. LXXIX.— THE NOBLE MACAW. 



Psittacus nobilia, L. 



Noble Parrot (Ger., Kleiner grimer Arara, Blaustirniger Arara, 

 Blaustirn-Arara ; Fr., Ara noble, Petit Ara vert, Ara 

 pavouane ; Dut,, Blauwneus Aixi) — Description — Cleverness 

 as a Speaker. 



This species is the best known and greatest favourite among 

 the small macaws. It is marine blue on the forehead and 

 on the upper edge of the eye ; all the rest of the upper 

 part of the body is dark grass-green ; the inner webs of 

 the quills are of a dull olive-green, the reverse side of the 

 quills olive-green ; the covert feathers on the bend of the wing, 

 along the under part of the wing, and on the bastard wing, 

 as well as the small under coverts of the wing, scarlet ; the 

 largest under coverts of the wing olive greenish-yellow ; the 

 reverse side of the tail also olive greenish-yellow ; all the 

 under part of the body dull grass-green ; the upper mandible 

 horn greyish-white ; the under beak horn brownish-black, 

 with lighter tip ; the featherless cheeks white, without the 

 row of small feathers ; eyes orange-yellow ; feet dark grey ; 

 claws blackish-brown. In size it is nearly as large as a 

 pigeon (length, 13^in. ; wings, 6fin. to 7in. ; tail, Og^in. to 6|in. 

 It is a native of Central Brazil. 



The Noble Macaw was first described and made known by 

 Linne in 1764. The Prince von Wied informs us that, although 

 it is rather shy, and nowhere very common, yet he had seen it 

 in small flocks on a cocoanut palm in the middle of a village, 

 and had heard its loud cry in flight. Burmeister says it re- 

 sembles its congeners in every respect. Though extremely rare 

 in the trade and at exhibitions, it may usually be seen in zoo- 

 logical gardens. Mrs. H. von Proschek, of Vienna, who is a 

 great admirer of these birds, informs us that a couple in her 



