Tower Menagerie — Section 24

_ANODORHYNCHUS MAXIMILIANI.

_ SPIX.

The second Order of Birds, which comprehends both the Picæ and Passeres of Linnæus, is essentially distinguished from the rest of the class by the structure of the feet, which are formed for perching.

Those of the Scansorial tribe in particular, to which all the species to be here noticed belong, have two of the toes directed forwards, and the remaining two directed backwards, in such a manner as to enable them to grasp the branch of a tree or other similar objects with peculiar firmness, and consequently to climb with more than usual agility.

This section comprehends some of the most gorgeously coloured and splendid among birds, as well as those which evince the highest degree of intelligence, in the imitation especially of the human voice, for which they have been celebrated from the earliest times.

The beautiful bird, the portrait of which is prefixed to the present article, is one of the rarest of its tribe, and has until very lately been confounded by ornithologists with the Hyacinthine Macaw, a fine but much less splendid species.

It is figured by M. Spix in his Brazilian Birds under the name which we have adopted; but is there given without either characters or description.

Its claim to generic distinction would seem to depend on the excessive length and powerful curvature of its claws and upper mandible, and on the slight developement of the toothlike process of the latter.

Its colour is throughout of a deep and brilliant blue; the beak, legs, and claws, are black; and the cere and a naked circle round each of the eyes are of a bright yellow.

Our specimen measures two feet four inches from the top of the head to the extremity of the tail, and the expansion of his wings is four feet.

The length of the upper mandible is five inches, and that of the lower, two.

[Illustration] [Illustration] THE BLUE AND YELLOW MACAW.

_MACROCERCUS ARARAUNA.

_ VIEILL.

The genus Macrocercus is characterized by the robustness of its beak, which is extremely broad and powerful; by the nakedness of its face, which is sometimes entirely bare, and sometimes partially covered with lines of short and scattered feathers; and by the size and form of its tail, which is longer than the body, regularly graduated, and terminating in an acute apex.

The whole of the species are American, and are remarkable for the brilliancy of their colours, which are perhaps more varied and more gaudy than those of any of the other modern divisions of the Linnean genus Psittacus.

They are consequently more sought after as objects of luxury and elegance, and bear a higher comparative value than the rest of the Parrots.

In common with the entire tribe, they inhabit the tropical regions of the earth, and live chiefly upon fruits and seeds.

Among the latter they uniformly give the preference to such as are provided with a hard and shelly covering.

These they crack with great dexterity, carefully rejecting the outer coat, and swallowing only the internal nut.

The Blue and Yellow Macaw is one of the finest of the group.

The whole of its upper surface is covered with plumage of the most beautiful azure;

the feathers of the under parts on the contrary are of a brilliant yellow.

The naked part of the cheeks, which are white slightly tinged with flesh colour, is ornamented with three lines of minute blackish feathers; and the throat is surrounded by a broad collar of greenish black.

The forehead is yellowish green.

[Illustration] [Illustration] THE YELLOW-CRESTED COCKATOO.

_PLYCTOLOPHUS SULPHUREUS.

_ VIEILL.

The Cockatoos have a strong, broad, and well curved beak; their eyes are surrounded by a naked space; their tail is short, square, and equal at the end; and their head is furnished with a remarkable crest of long and slender feathers, which may be raised or depressed at will, and are frequently of a different colour from the rest of the plumage.

This latter character forms the most distinguishing mark of the group, which is partly indigenous to India and the Indian Islands, and partly to Australia.

They are fond of damp and marshy situations, and usually inhabit the neighbourhood of rivers or of smaller streams, in which they indulge themselves with frequent bathing, a practice in which, even in captivity, they seem, in common with many others of the tribe, to take a particular pleasure.

Like the rest of the Parrots they live entirely on vegetable substances, and chiefly upon seeds; some of them, however, are said to feed upon roots.

Their usual nourishment, in a domesticated state, is the same with that of the other Parrots, consisting generally of nothing more than hemp-seed, from which they detach the outer covering with much adroitness.

They have also a great relish for sweetmeats and pastry.

The present species is pure white throughout, with the exception of its crest, the longer feathers of which are bright yellow; and of the under surface of the wings and tail, which are straw-coloured, as are also occasionally the cheeks.

The beak is nearly black.

It is a native of the Moluccas, and is not unfrequently brought to Europe.

It is remarkably intelligent, and becomes attached to those who show it kindness.

[Illustration] [Illustration] THE EMEU.