ILLIGER’S MACAW. 
83 
This is a miniature Macaw, not as large as an Alexandrine Parrakeet, 
though having all the characteristics of a Macaw. The prevailing 
colour is dark green; the cheeks are bare and yellowish, the beak black. 
The specimens with which I was acquainted were tame, but too noisy 
for a room. I should think it would make a good talker, though 
neither of those I saw talked. For any one who wanted to try the 
experiment of turning out Macaws, but was afraid of the damage that 
might be done by the larger Macaws, Illiger’s Macaw would be an 
excellent bird to try. Though very good-tempered, I observed in a 
pair caged together in a dealer’s shop, the same jealousy that I have 
alluded to in my account of the other Macaws: no doubt the jealous 
one was the cock. They are worth about £2 or £3 the pair. 
For food I find Macaws require only bread and milk and hemp 
seed. I have tried them with Indian corn, but they do not seem very 
fond of it. They do not eat very much bread and milk after they are 
grown up, though as nestlings they live entirely on it; the principal 
food is hemp seed. They are small eaters considering their size. 
As to diseases, “Bob” occasionally had a cold in his head, and then 
he was not let out for a day or two, but with the amount of liberty 
my Macaws enjoy they naturally do not get ill. 
