112 BLUE AND YELLOW MACCAW. 



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 alternately upon the eggs, and are equally assi- 

 duous 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 Grey Parrot, and it is seldom that they can he 

 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, in- 

 terrupted with hoarse croaking murmurs. Living 

 specimens of this species are sometimes seen caged 

 in England. A very fine one is completely domes- 

 ticated at Dr Neill's, Canonmills (near Edinburgh), 

 and allowed the freedom of several apartments : when 

 desirous of being noticed, it calls out " Robert," the 

 name of its earliest master, very distinctly ; but it 

 has not acquired more than one other conventional 

 sound. Beautiful examples may be studied in the 

 aviaries of the Zoological Gardens. Our next figure 

 represents another species very nearly related to the 

 Scarlet Maccaw : it is the 



