126 



ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



parts, from the breast downwards, are of a light orange 

 yellow ; and the throat is of a dusky black, with a faint 

 greenish shade. The blue of the fore part of the head 

 has a more decided tinge of green. The naked cheeks 

 have their white suffused with a slight roseate blush, 

 and are marked by three or sometimes more transverse 

 lines of minute blackish feathers. In the female the 

 colours are still more vivid, and the tail is also some- 

 what longer in proportion ; but the relative size of the 

 bird is a trifle less. 



Like all the other species of the group, the Blue and 

 Yellow Maccaw is a native of the tropical regions of 

 America ; and to judge from the numbers imported into 

 Europe, it must be extremely abundant. Although it 

 inhabits the same localities with the species formerly 

 described, it is said never to mingle with them, but on 

 the contrary to be at open war with them whenever 

 they chance to meet. The natives who are accustomed 

 to their notes say, that it is easy to distinguish them 

 by their articulation, the Arra of the Blue and Yellow 

 Maccaw being pronounced with less distinctness than 

 that of the other species. They seem perfectly at their 

 ease in domestication, and have frequently bred in 

 France ; but we know not that the same success has 

 attended the rearing of them in this country. 





