Macaw is the popular name for any 
member of the South 
Parrots. American Arid@. These 
birds are remarkable for 
their size and the beauty of their 
plumage, the blue and yellow (see 
illustration) being one of the hand- 
somest. Waterton says of it: “The 
flaming scarlet of his body, the lovely 
variety of red, yellow, blue and 
ereen in his wings, the extra- 
ordinary length of his tail, all 
seem to join and demand for 
him the title of Emperor of the 
Parrots.” They are less docile than 
the true parrots, and can be rarely 
taught to articulate more than a 
few words, and their cry is harsh 
and disagreeable. Perhaps the most 
remarkable talking parrot ever known 
was that of Colonel O'Kelly, which 
died in Half Moon Street, Piccadilly, 
the event being recorded in all the 
leading newspapers. This singular 
bird sang a number of songs in 
perfect time and tune.~ She could 
express her wants articulately, and 
give her orders in a manner nearly 
approaching to rationality. Her age 
was not known; but she must have 
been well over thirty. The Colonel 
was repeatedly offered five hundred 
guineas a year for the bird’s hire by 
persons who wished to make a public 
exhibition of her, but this, out of 
SQUACCO 
HERON. 
Zoo Noies 
WHITE-BACKED PIPING CROW. 
L 
MACAW. 
27133 
WHITE-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 
tenderness to his favourite, 
he constantly refused. She 
would not only repeat a 
great number of sentences, 
but answer questions put 
to her in a manner which 
seemed rational. When 
singing, she beat time 
with all the appearance of 
science, and so accurate 
was her judgment that if 
by chance she mistook a 
note she would revert to 
the bar where the mistake 
was made, correct herself, 
and, still beating regular 
time, go through the whole with 
wonderful exactness. 
Ts 
THE Squacco Heron pourtrayed on 
this page was captured 
by a Cape Liner. The 
erect position of the 
head is that taken by the bird just 
before flight when surprised or 
alarmed; when resting, the neck is 
drawn in so that. it appears quite 
short. Both these attitudes are 
shown in the photographs. The 
squacco feeds on frogs, aquatic 
insects, worms and small shell- 
fish, which it seeks only during 
the day. 
Squacco 
Heron. 
