THE RED AND BLUE MACCAW. 



PSITTACUS MACAO. LEVAILLANI. 



PLATE 23. 



The Maccaws hold a distinguished rank among 

 the splendid family of which they are members. 

 Ihey are remarkable for their large size, as well as 

 for the beauty and variety of their colours. A 

 distinguishing characteristic is their cheeks being 

 naked, with only a few scattered feathers. Their 

 upper mandible is much longer than the under 

 one, has a great curvature, and is provided with a 

 notch on each side, which corresponds with the notch 

 in the lower mandible; the tail is longer than the 

 rest of tlie body, and graduated. They are very 

 mild and docile in their disposition, on which 

 account they are greatly esteemed ; but they are by 

 no means famous for their imitative powers, nor for 

 their intelligence. 



Maccaws live entirely on vegetable diet, and 

 prefer such seeds and nuts as are enveloped in a 

 coriaceous rind. They live to a great age, but 



