82 ILLIGER'S MACAW. 



history of these interesting birds, the Parrots, might then be readily 

 solved, and the poor creatures themselves would enjoy better health, 

 and be seen to better advantage by the public, than at present is 

 the case, confined as they are in miserable cages in which many of 

 them can barely turn themselves round. 



Only for its relatively large beak, and the extended patch of naked 

 skin that surrounds the eye, this sombre -looking bird would appear to 

 be more appropriately classed with the Conures than the Macrocerci, 

 with which, however, the above-mentioned distinctions inseparably con- 

 nect it; its colours are not striking, nor is the shape of the bird elegant; 

 it appears to be dull and spiritless too, and to lack altogether the 

 vivacity and restlessness that are such conspicuous features of the large 

 Macaw's character. We have seen one of these birds sit motionless 

 for hours, with its beak resting on one of the side bars of its cage — 

 the reader must not, however, too hastily conclude that we remained 

 as motionless as the bird to observe it, for we simply could not do 

 it; what we mean is, that having seen the bird assume the position we 

 have indicated, and . looked at it for a few minutes, on our return two 

 hours afterwards, we found it in exactly the same spot from which 

 it had, apparently, never moved all that time: at liberty in an aviary 

 or large room, or even chained to a perch, as most of these birds, 

 the Macaws, are in captivity, it is very likely it would betray quite 

 a different disposition, and be as lively and active as any of the members 

 of its race. 



Illiger's Macaw is not a rare bird in its own country, the southern 

 parts of Brazil, but is very seldom imported into this, probably in 

 consequence of its sad-coloured coat, in which all the tints look as if 

 they had been subjected to a process of "washing out", and the colours 

 had either not been "fast", or had been imperfectly restored. 



As this is one of the birds we have not kept, we cannot say much 

 as to its capacity for acquiring knowledge, including the use, or rather 

 imitation, of articulate speech, and other accomplishments for which so 

 many of its congeners have acquired a world-wide celebrity. Under 

 happier conditions than we have ever known it placed in, Illiger's 

 Macaw might turn out a very different bird, and quite overset the 

 opinion we have, so far, formed of its merits. 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. DuttorCs account of Illiger's Macaw 

 (Ara maracana). 



I mat close the account of the Macaws with whose habits I am 

 acquainted with a description of Miger's Macaw. 



