PSITTACUS, Lin. &E. PARROT.
Bill hooked, upper mandible moveable, and, for the most part, covered with a case; nostrils rounded, basal ; tongue, in most of the species, fleshy, obtuse, and entire ; feet formed for climbing.
This splendid genus, which includes about one hundred and fifty species, is peculiar to the warmer regions of the globe, but not restricted to the limits assigned by Buffon, namely, a zone of twenty-five degrees on each side of the equator, for some of them have been found in latitudes as far as forty or even forty-five from the line Some species equal the domestic fowl in size, whilst others are not lar ger than a sparrow. They resemble the aceipitrine tribes in the form of their bill, but in that of their feet, and in their manners, they coincide with the other genera of this order. They climb easily, assisting themselves with their bill, associate in pairs or in flocks, feed on the seeds and fruits of various plants, often attain to a great age, and, by means of their obtuse tongue, and the conformation of their larynx, may be taught to imitate human speech. Their roosting stations are usually in the woods of islands situated in rivers, which traverse extensive forests, or in places of difficult access. Each troop, it is said, has its sentinel, and all are very clamorous before they go to rest, and when they awake in the morning ; but, when en gaged in pillaging fruit, they pause from their chattering. Their general character, in some respects, accords with that of the monkey among quadrupeds, for they are ca pricious, mischievous, and prone to imitation. In Europe, the female will sometimes lay eggs, but very rarely hatches them, unless a temperature be kept up corresponding to that of her native climate. In their wild state, the male and female sit on their eggs alternately. The flesh of the full grown birds is generally reckoned tough and unsavou ry, but that of the young of some of the species is in more request. Buffon and others have divided the tribe into various sections, but it will suffice for the very limited nature of our illustrative exposition to adopt the twofold Linnman distinction of Macruri, or those which have the tail more or less long, and the Brachyuri, or those which have it more or less short, and even feathered, without pretending to draw a precise line of demarcation between them, which possibly does not exist.
A. With comparatively long and pointed tails.
P. macao,Lin. Ste. Macrocrecus Macao, Vieil. Scar let, or Blue and Red Illaccaw. Scarlet, with blue wings ; lying-coverts varied with yellow, cheeks white, naked and wrinkled. The upper mandible white, tail long and red, with the feathers blue at the sides. Size of a capon, and about two feet seven inches in length. Inhabits Brazil, Guiana, and other regions of South America, affecting moist palm woods, and living on the fruit of the trees. These birds generally appear in pairs, and but seldom in flocks. Sometimes, however, they congregate, and the clamour of their united bands is then heard at a great dis tance. They are the best flyers of all the parrot tribe, and are always observed to perch on the summits of trees, or on the highest branches. During the day they wander two or three miles from their favourite spot or home, but always return in the evening. They build in the hollows of large trees, widening the cavity when too narrow, and lining it with feathers. Like all other American parrots, they have two hatches annually, each consisting of two eggs, which are said to be of the size of those of a pigeon, and spotted like those of the partridge. The males and females sit alternately on the eggs, and cherish the young, never deserting their charge so long as their assistance is required, and always perching near the nest. When ne cessitated to feed on the manchineel apple, their flesh is poisonous, though the birds themselves apparently expe rience no inconvenience from it. The strength of their bill is sufficient to break a peach stone with great ease. The young are readily tamed, and are even taught to speak, but the old birds are clamorous, unmanageable, and troublesome, snapping the bars of their chairs, and pulling the brass nails from every article of furniture. They are, nevertheless, capable of being domesticated, though not of acquiring articulate sounds, and are, con sequently, seldom caught for the purpose of confinement. Like others of the genus, they are subject to epileptic fits when kept in houses, notwithstanding which they fre quently attain to a considerable age. Though their flesh is hard, black, and unsavoury; it makes good soup, and furnishes a considerable portion of the food of the inhabi tants of Cayenne, as well as of other parts of South Ame rica.