Psittacus maracana, Vll.

Illigers Arara (Ger., Rothruckiger Arara, Rothstimiger Arara, Marakana; Fr., Ara a joues rouges, Ara d'llliger; Dut., Illigers Ara) - Rarity - Description.

Illiger's Macaw was described and named by Vieillot in 1816; yet, though nearly as common in the trade as the preceding species, we have, to the present time, no details of its life in freedom, nor of its habits in captivity. It is of a dull vermilion on the forehead and hinder part of the back; the crown of the head is a dull greenish-blue; the rump and upper coverts of the tail yellowish-green; the quills sky-blue, the inner webs being brownish-yellow; the reverse side of the quills and the large under coverts of the wings a dull olive-yellow; the tail feathers are brownish-red at the basal half, the tip half greenish-blue; the reverse side a dull olive-yellow; all the rest of the upper part of the body olive, inclining to grass-green; all the under part of the body the same; the middle of the belly and the hinder part of the body a dull vermilion; the beak blackish-brown; the upper mandible lighter, greyish at the base and point; the unfeathered cheeks reddish, inclining to sulphur-yellow, set with rows of little, black, bristly feathers; the eyes orange, with a greyish-brown ring round the iris; the feet a reddish-brown flesh-colour; claws black. It is about the size of a pigeon (length, 16 3/8in.; wings, 7 3/8in. to 8 1/8in.; tail, 7 1/4in. to 7 7/8in.). It is a native of South Brazil, and is found near the mouths of the rivers.

Like the preceding, this species is to be seen occasionally in zoological gardens and at exhibitions. Dr. Schmidt writes of one which lived fifteen years in the Zoological Garden at Frankfort. Dr. Frenzel, of Freiburg, had a couple which bred, but they, unfortunately, did not succeed in rearing the young. This bird is, on the whole, as great a favourite as the Small Macaw.