THE RED AND BLUE MACAW. 123 



with light brown ; the next on each side half blue and half 

 red, the four outermost violet blue above, and beneath pale 

 red. 



There are varieties of this bird which exhibit some differ- 

 ences in the colours of the wings and tail, but these are un- 

 important. The female can. hardly be distinguished from the 

 male. 



Habitat. This bird is a native of Brazil, Guiana, and other 

 parts of South America, and is generally to be met with in 

 pairs, in swampy forests. In confinement it may either be 

 allowed to range about, or there may be provided for it a 

 smooth planed stand, with cross perches. Still, as, like all 

 Parrots, it is a very dirty bird, it is best to place the stand in 

 a wire aviary, not less than two feet and a half in width, and 

 eight feet in height, in which it is not liable to rub off its 

 beautiful tail feathers, and can enjoy the freedom of motion so 

 essential to its health. 



Food. In its native country it feeds chiefly on the fruit of 

 the fan palm. In confinement it will eat any kind of fruit ; 

 but is best fed with bread soaked in milk. Biscuit is a harm- 

 less diet, but meat, sugar or sweetmeats, are very unwholesome. 

 If the bird survives, it is unhealthy; its plumage becomes 

 rough, it tears out its feathers, especially in the wings, and 

 even bites its own flesh. It drinks very Little, which is, per- 

 haps, accounted for by the usually moist nature of its food. 



Breeding. This Parrot usually makes its nest in a hole of a 

 rotten tree, widens the aperture, if not large enough, with its 

 beak, and lines the cavity with feathers. The female lays 

 twice a year, two eggs, resembling in size and colour those of 

 the Partridge. Even in confinement the females sometimes lay 

 eggs, but they are generally addled, or if not, the birds, like 

 Parrots generally, can very rarely be induced to sit. Cases 

 have nevertheless occurred, in which a female Macaw of this 

 species has hatched even Pigeons' and Hens' eggs. Those 

 which are kept in Europe, especially if able to speak, are gene- 

 rally young birds which have been reared from the nest, as the 

 old birds are not only difficult to tame, but altogether incapable 

 of being taught, uttering only a harsh cry, the expression of 

 their various passions. 



Diseases. This Macaw is subject to many diseases, espe- 

 cially decline ; for the treatment of which the reader is referred 



