AVES— MACCAW. 



549 



stances, chiefly seeds, supply its food, in the Avild state. When domesti- 

 cated, it lives on hemp-seed, the outer covering of which it detaches with 

 much dexterity. Of pastry and sweetmeats it is very fond. 



THE M A C C A W .1 



The maccaws are characterized by their very broad and powerful beaks ; 

 the nakedness of the face, sometimes quite bare, at other times partially 

 covered with lines of short and scattered feathers ; and the tail, which sur- 

 passes the body in length, is regularly graduated and terminates in an acute 

 apex. All of them are natives of America, inhabit the tropical regions, and 

 are remarkable for their vivid coloring. They subsist on fruits and seeds. 

 Of the latter, they prefer such as have a hard and shelly covering, and from 

 these they extract the contents very skilfully. 



THE BLUE MACCAW 



Inhabits Brazil. It is entirely of a deep and brilliant blue color; with 

 black back, legs, and claws. Round each of the eyes is a naked circle of 

 bright yellow, and the cere is of the same hue. A specimen in the 

 Tower, measures two feet four inches, from the top of the head to the 

 extremity of the tail. Its upper mandible is five inches long; its lower 

 is two. 



1 Psittacus macao, Lin. 



