14 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



favourites ; but they are by no means equal to most of 

 the other divisions of the Parrot tribe in activity, in 

 intelligence, in familiarity, or in the imitative powers 

 of their voice. Their diet is entirely vegetable, consist- 

 ing chiefly of fruits and seeds, of which they prefer 

 such as are enclosed in a nut-like or coriaceous rind. 

 They are said to be very long-lived ; but require in 

 this climate great attention to preserve them from the 

 effects of cold. 



At the head of this truly magnificent group stands 

 the Red and Blue Maccaw, the largest and one of the 

 most highly ornamented of its species. It measures 

 nearly three feet from the top of the head to the extre- 

 mity of the tail, and the latter, when in fine condition, 

 is full two thirds of the total length. The general 

 colour of its plumage is a deep and brilliant red, sepa- 

 rated, on the intermediate wing-coverts and behind the 

 shoulders, by a broad band of bluish green, from the 

 deep violet blue of the large quill-feathers of the wings. 

 The tail is usually blue at the base, crimson in the 

 middle, blue again at the extremity, and blood red 

 beneath; but all these colours vary both in intensity 

 and extent. Three or four transverse lines of minute 

 clustered crimson feathers ornament the naked cheeks, 

 which, as well as the cere covering the base of the 

 bill, are perfectly white. The lower mandible and the 

 base of the upper are of a blackish horn-colour ; the 

 middle of the latter is dirty yellowish white ; and its 

 point again assumes a dusky hue. The claws are of 

 the same colour as the base of the beak, as are also 

 the scales which cover the less and toes. 



This species is found in Brasil and in some of the 

 West India Islands. The specimen figured belongs to 

 the young Queen of Portugal, but has been for some 

 months an inmate of the Gardens. 



