Psittacus hyacinthinus, Lth.

Hyacinthine Macaw (Ger., Grosser blauer Arara, Hyazinth-Arara, oder hyazinthblauer Arara; Fr., Ara hyacinthine, Ara Maxi-milien; Dut., Maximilians Ara) - Description - Habitat - Rarity.

This magnificent bird, with its powerful beak, can neither escape notice nor be mistaken for another; it is well suited for zoological gardens. Its whole body is dark cobalt blue, lighter on the head and throat, but darker on the crown of the head, back of the neck, wings, and tail; the quills have a blackish edge on the inner web, and are of shining black on the reverse side; the larger under coverts of the wings black; the tail feathers black on the reverse side; the beak black; eyes blackish-brown; the lores feathered; the eye cere and the bare skin round the under mandible orange yellow: the feet blackish-brown : claws black. Its size is about that of a domestic cock, but longer in appearance (length, about 39 3/8in.; wings, 14 1/4in.; longest tail feathers, 18in. to 22 1/2in.).

It is a native of Central Brazil as far north as the Amazon River. It was described by Latham in 1790, and Azara also treated of it. Even in its native country it is rather rare, being found only in pairs or families. Until lately it was very scarce in Europe. In the Zoological Gardens in London it first appeared in 1867. The principal zoological collections have by degrees obtained specimens, and two may be found in the Berlin Garden. Miss Hagenbeck has occasionally exhibited one of these splendid birds. Dr. Finsch says he has heard one murmuring words of some foreign language in a deep bass voice.

HYACINTHINE MACAW. (Psittacus hyacinthinus).