10 
BEAUTIFUL EIKDS. 
pairs, or at most in the himilj pack, for a short time 
after the young are capable of using tlie wing. It 
sometimes liappens, liowever, that the rains foil or are 
later in coming than usual, and at such times the 
forest supply gives way, and their closest inhabitants 
are compelled to range abroad for subsistence. This 
is sometimes tlie case with the Illue and Yellow Mac- 
caws, and where it is the case, tliey assemble in flocks, 
take a lofty flight, and give notice of their approach by 
the loudness of their scream. They are birds of very 
powerful wing, and have much command of themselves 
in the air. Their wings are very pointed, and their 
tail exceedingly long, stiff, and wedge-shaped. When 
they alight on their journeys, in order to rest for the 
night, or for a time, it is always on the tops of the 
loftiest trees, and they never alight without whirling 
round and round in the air, as if in order to ascertain 
whetlier any danger be near, before they take their 
repose; and while they arc reposing it is generally 
understood that they have a watch set, which never 
foils to give timely warning in case of necessity. 
Although they may inhabit the same localities with 
other species of the same genus, it is said that they 
never mingle with them, but, on the contrary, are at 
open war with them when they happen to meet, like 
two hostile marauding companies of troops. 
They nestle in the holes of trees, have two hatches 
in the year, and two young at each hatch. 
The colours of this species are remarkably distinct : 
all the upper parts, from the forehead to the extremity 
of the tail, including the sides of the head and the 
upper surface of the wings, are of a bright blue, with 
