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>LUE AND lELLOW #ACAW. 



Psittacus ararauna, Russ. 



Synonyms: Ara ararauna, GrR., Bp., etc.; Sittace ararauna, Wgl.; 



Macrocercus ararauna, Auctorum. G-erman : Der gelbrustige blaue Arara. 



French : Ara bleu et jaune. 



IN the Blue and Yellow Macaw the species last described finds a 

 powerful rival to the throne of Parrotdoin, but the bird now under 

 consideration being of less size than the Red and Blue Macaw, the 

 latter must be looked upon as successfully maintaining his claim to 

 superiority, but as there is no very great difference in size between 

 the two species, a couple of inches in length or thereabouts, it would 

 have been a question of great delicacy to decide between the two 

 claimants for imperial honours, had not the magnificent plumage of 

 the Emperor de facto rendered it comparatively easy to decide in his 

 favour: bright red and deep blue are more striking colours than dark 

 blue and yellow, so that the possessor of the latter uniform is obliged 

 to fall back, and content himself with second place. 



The Blue and Yellow Macaw is of less frequent occurrence in the 

 bird market than its more showily-coated relative, but makes quite as 

 amiable and desirable a pet; of the two, it is, perhaps, the most sus- 

 ceptible of education, speaking with great distinctness, if it does not 

 learn to repeat a very lengthened vocabulary: we say ' ' amiable and 

 desirable pet" advisedly, for we know of few more amusing and inter- 

 esting birds, providing, that is to say, they are taken in hand from the 

 nest, when they become, as we have said, exceedingly tame. 



Their tempers are naturally good, at least all the specimens of the 

 several species of Macrocercus with which we have had to do were 

 possessed of a variety of good qualities; they are not, for instance, 

 nearly as excitable as the Cockatoos, or as jealous and spiteful as the 

 Parrots, and they are far more easily tamed than any of the Parrakeets; 



