200 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



THE MACAWS. 



THESE magnificently colored birds are the largest of the Parrot species, and are 

 alike famed for their beauty and intelligence. There are three varieties of them, 

 easily distinguished from one another by the differences in colors. Of these, the 

 Scarlet, or Red-and-Blue, Macaw is probably the best known. Of the same nature as 

 other Parrots, they are equally as mischievous in their ways ; and when not tamed, 

 and carefully confined, the range of destruction may include any thing in house-fur- 

 nishing from a teaspoon to a piano-leg. A jeweller who owned a Macaw once had 

 several watches cleaned out on time. The large, powerful beak is indeed a dan- 

 gerous weapon, as was fully verified by the Down-east boy, who, when induced to 

 put his finger in a Macaw's mouth to feel for his eye-tooth, quickly withdrew it, 

 exclaiming, "The cuss can bite like a hoss ! " Although naturally destructive in 

 his habits, and possibly not a friend of some lady member of a family whose piano 

 he attempted to devour, the Macaw is withal a very sociable bird, and will attach 

 himself to his master with the fidelity of a dog : indeed, he seems to bear the same 

 relation to the race of birds that the Newfoundland does to the dog family. 



His intelligence is remarkable ; and when tamed, an easy matter by the way, 

 and trained to talk, he is held in the highest estimation. His voice, owing to his 

 size, is naturally very gruff : although, when brought within the range of children's 

 or ladies' voices, he quickly imitates them ; and the different tones are committed 

 to memory, and uttered at the right moment. The street-vender of oranges and 

 fruits, and the buyers of old rags or bottles, are special favorites of his ; the tones of 

 voice employed by these artists being, in his estimation, the standards of excellence 

 as high tenors and sub-basses. Many times in the course of a day he will bring 

 the busy housemaid, desiring to buy or sell, to the window or door, only to be 

 laughed at by the mischief -loving bird for her pains. 



His loud, gruff squawks are easily stilled if a sufficient supply of food is kept 

 before him ; if hungry, he will make himself heard in a disagreeable manner, 

 which has probably given him the reputation of not being a desirable house-bird ; 

 but when he has sufficient food, which he can peck at, at his leisure, he will always 

 remain in good-humor : and whether it be in singing a song, which should be 

 pitched in a very high key, in his amusing bass voice, or vending imitation oranges, 

 he remains as solemn looking as a hypocritical deacon. If a pair of spectacles 

 were placed on his ample nose, and a red bandanna put in his claw, he would, 

 indeed, make a model-looking sensational preacher. 



The Macaw's age, like that of a, well-preserved, hair-dyed old gentleman, it is 

 impossible to tell. After attaining full growth, the younger members resemble the 



