THE HYACINTHINE MACCAW. 



PSITTACUS BTACINTHINUS LATHAM. 



PLATE 15. 



The whole plumage of this species is of a fine 

 hyacinthine blue, lighter on the head and neck, 

 changing to sea green on the upper parts, and of the 

 colour of polished steel, which is the case also with 

 the wings and tail ; the neck, the orbits, and gula, are 

 naked, and of a deep yellow colour ; the edge of the 

 eyelid, and the iris, have the shade of rosemary 

 flowers ; the bill and feet are of a deep black ; the 

 membmne of the bill is of a beautiful yellow, and 

 two lines wide at the base of the upper mandible ; 

 it diminishes with the length to the angle of the 

 mouth, from whence there extends a second straight 

 membrane, which embraces the inferior mandible, 

 and advances towards the eye ; the cheeks are in a 

 great measure covered with feathers, which distin- 

 guishes this Ara from its congeners. The whole 

 length of the bird is twenty-six inches. The female 

 is a little less than the male, and the young are of a 

 more dull blue colour. 



