158 BIRDS 



from the nest by natives. These birds are reasonably tame, 

 and often make fair talkers. Macaws are seldom to be 

 trusted, however, and their strong, heavy beaks are dan- 

 gerous weapons. 



There are about twenty species of macaws, of which only 

 a few are generally seen in captivity. 



The Red and Blue Macaw (Ara macao) and the Blue 

 AND Yellow {A, ararauna) are the most common. The 

 former is bright red in color, with green-tipped, yellow 

 wing coverts and blue primaries. The latter is deep blue 

 above, with bright yellow underparts. Both species are 

 found from Central America to northern South America. 



The Green-winged Macaw (A. chloroptera) somewhat 

 resembles the Red and Blue, but is considerably larger, 

 with a heavier beak. It is a darker red, and has no yellow 

 in the wing coverts, which are mostly green. Its range 

 approximates that of the preceding. 



The Military Macaw (A. militaris) is mostly bright 

 green, with a red frontal patch. It is somewhat smaller 

 than those already mentioned and is less common. It is 

 found from Mexico to Peru. 



The most charming of all macaws are the blue species, 

 of the genus Anodorhynchus. There are three forms, of 

 which the least uncommon, as well as the finest, is the 

 Hyacinthine {A. hyacinthinus) . This is a huge creature, 

 nearly three feet in length, with a great hooked beak and of 

 a deep cobalt blue, with the base of the lower mandible as 

 well as the eye-rings yellow. This is an intelligent bird, 

 very tame and confiding with those it knows and trusts, but 

 decidedly averse to strangers. All of the species have 

 rather obscure origins in central Brazil, and consequently 

 are always rare and high in price. 



