Psittacua severus, L.

Green Macaw (Ger., Anakan, Rothbug-Arara, Zwergarara, Arara mit rothem Handgelenk; Fr., Ara vert, Ara a front chatain; Dut., Roodhand Ara) - Description - Life in Cap-tivity - Imitative Powers.

The Green Macaw, as it is usually called in the trade, was described by Markgraf in 1648, and afterwards by Brisson; it was named by Linne. It is coloured in the following manner : The narrow band on the forehead, the stripe on the cheeks, and the stripe on the upper part of the throat near the lower mandible, are reddish-brown; the head and back of the neck dark grass-green, each feather having a broad blue edge; the quills a dull blue; the inner web and tips blackish; the secondaries edged with green, all copper-red on the reverse side; the greater coverts dull blue; the coverts along the bastard wing form a broad scarlet border; the tail feathers reddish-brown, about one-third from the tip, dull blue, and coppery-red on the reverse side; all the rest of the upper part of the body dark grass-green; all the lower part of the body dull green; the beak black, with a lighter horn-grey point; the cere and featherless cheeks a yellowish flesh-colour, set in front of and below the eye, and as far as the ear, with rows of little black feathers; the eyes yellowish-white, inclining to yellow; feet blackish-brown; claws black. In very old birds the edges of the wings, and the small and central under coverts, are scarlet; the greater coverts coppery-red; and there are some red feathers about the thigh. In size, it is somewhat larger than a pigeon (length, 20 1/2in.; wings, 8 3/4in. to 10 1/4in.; tail, 8 1/8in. to 9 5/8in.).

This macaw is a native of a large district of southerly Brazil, and extends as far as Panama; it has also been shot at the upper course of the Amazon.

Buffon wrote much of its life in captivity. He praised the Small Macaw, not only as a beautiful and rare bird, but also on account of its gentle and endearing ways; it is able to imitate the human voice, as well as the cries and whistling of other birds, but learns the former more easily, and does it more clearly than the large macaws. It listens to other speaking birds, and learns from them. Its voice, however, is not so strong, and it is said not to be able to pronounce the word "Macaw" as clearly as the larger species. It is common in the trade, and is frequently seen at exhibitions, though usually singly; it is seldom found with amateurs, but often appears in zoological gardens.