THE ILLINOIS PARROT. 5? 



awkward walk, their heavy movements, and their constant inclination to 

 help themselves along with their beak, added to their great unclean liness, 

 does not appear very agreeable. They are sometimes very wicked, taking 

 dislike to some people, and may do great injury to children if left alone 

 with them. Owing to their dung being very liquid, abundant, and foetid, 

 they must be cleaned regularly every day. 



THE BLUE AND YELLOW MACCAW. 



Psittacus Ararauna, Linn^us ; L'Ara Bleu ; Der Blauc Aras, Bechstein. 



This species, which is about the size of the former, appears 

 to me much m.ore beautiful, though the colours of its plumage 

 are not so striking. Its beak is black, the feet dark grey ; the 

 cheeks flesh-coloured, streaked in the form of an S, with lines 

 of short black feathers. The iris is light yellow ; the throat 

 ornamented with a black collar ; the forehead, to the top of the 

 head, the sides, and small wing-coverts are of a dark green ; the 

 rest of the upper part of the body is of a fine blue ; all the 

 colours are apt to vary. 



Habitation. — Being, like the preceding one, a native of Surinam^ 

 Guiana, and Brazil, its way of living and qualities are much the same. It 

 does not, however, learn to speak so easily, and cannot pronounce the 

 word rnaccaw so distinctly ; but it imitates perfectly the bleating of sheep, 

 the mewing of cats, and the barking of dogs. Its custom of only drinking- 

 in the evening seems extraordinary. 



THE ILLINOIS PARROT. 



Psittacus pertinax, Linn«;us ; La Perruche Illinoise ; Der Illinesische 

 Sittich, Bechstein. 



This is a species which almost all bird-sellers have. Its. 

 length is nine inches and a half. The beak is light grey, the 

 eyes surrounded with a naked greyish «kin, the iris is deep 

 orange. The feet are dark grey. The principal colour on the 

 top of the body is green, that under is yellowish grey. The 

 forehead, cheeks, and throat are of a brilliant orange ; the top 

 of the head is dark green ; this colour is lighter and yellowish 

 on the back of the head ; the top of the neck is greenish grey ; 

 there are some orange spots on the belly 



In the female, the forehead only is deep yellow, and there is 

 no other mixture of yellow either on the head or belly. 



