490 MACAWS. 



of those of a turkey, and of a pure white. They feed on 

 bananas and other fruits, as well as maize and rice. 



There are several species. One (the mitu tuberosa) has 

 an orange-coloured beak, surmounted by a bean-shaped ex- 

 crescence of the same hue. It lays two rough-shelled white 

 eggs. 



Another species (the crax globicera) inhabits the Upper 

 Amazon, and possesses a round instead of a bean-shaped ex- 

 crescence on the beak. 



These birds are easily tamed. Bates mentions one which 

 used to attend the family with whom he lived at all the 

 meals, passing from one person to another round the mat to 

 be fed, and rubbing the sides of its head in a coaxing way 

 against their cheeks or shoulders. At night it went to roost 

 in a sleeping-room — beside the hammock of one of the little 

 girls, to whom it seemed to be greatly attached, following her 

 wherever she went about the grounds. These birds, however, 

 do not breed in captivity, and are therefore only kept by the 

 Indians as pets ; though possibly they might be induced, by 

 proper management, to do so, when they would prove a valu- 

 able addition to the poultry-yard in England. 



In its wild state it seldom descends from the lofty trees. 



MACAWS. 



On observing the curious, powerful beak of a macaw, we at 

 once see that it must be an inhabitant of a region producing 

 hard fruits, which require the application of considerable 

 strength to break them. At morning and evening flocks of 

 this large and richlj'-plumaged bird may be observed flying 

 across the streams in all directions — their loud, harsh screams 

 echoing among the forests through the calm air — wheeling and 



