Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/777

 MACAW is entirely vegetable, and the tongue is thick and soft ; the flight is horizontal, and not ele- vated. Generally observed in pairs, they some- times occur in small flocks, which utter the most piercing and disagreeable screams when- ever disturbed ; they are less docile than the true parrots, and can rarely be taught to artic- ulate more than a few words in a discordant tone ; they breed in hollow trees, laying gen- erally two eggs, both sexes assisting in incuba- tion ; the cheeks are bare of feathers, having only a few minute plumes ; the word ara is derived from the Indian name of the bird, and is an imitation of their ordinary cry. One of the handsomest species is the scarlet macaw (A. macao, Linn.), measuring 39 inches from the bill to the end of the tail; the principal color is bright red, with blue rump, vent, tail coverts, and quills, and greenish blue and yel- low wing coverts ; the tail, which is about two thirds of the whole length, is variegated with blue and crimson ; the upper mandible is whi- tish, the lower one dusky, and the skin of the cheeks white and wrinkled. This magnificent bird is not uncommon in South America, and is occasionally seen in menageries. The red and blue macaw (A. aracanga, Gmel.) greatly re- sembles the last named species, but the middle of the wing coverts is bright yellow ; it attains a length of 39 in., the tail measuring 24 in. ; the prevailing color is vermilion red, the wings variegated with azure blue; the lower back, rump, and tail coverts are pale azure and ultra- marine blue ; the four longest central tail feath- ers vermilion red, the next on each side red and blue, and the rest wholly blue ; the un- der surface of the tail deep red ; iris yellow. It is widely distributed in intertropical South America, and even extends to Mexico; like MACCABEES 771 Blue and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna). other macaws, it breeds twice a year; from its size and beauty it forms a striking feature in collections, but its harsh notes render it a disagreeable companion in a private house. The blue and yellow macaw (A. ararauna, Linn.) is rather smaller and is less common than the two preceding ; it is about 2| ft. long, of a fine blue color above, with more or less tinge of green; the lower surface from the breast downward is a light orange yellow ; the cheeks are white and the bill black. It frequents woods in marshy districts, where grow the species of palm upon whose fruit it principally feeds ; when taken early, it is easily tamed, and may be taught to imitate certain sounds, though not to articulate distinctly; it is easily reconciled to captivity, and has been known to breed in confinement. The green macaw (A. militaris, Linn.) is of a general lively green color, with blackish brown bill, crimson forehead, reddish brown chin, blue lower back, upper tail coverts, wing coverts, and quills; the upper surface of the tail is s.carlet with blue tip, the under surface and that of the wings orange yellow ; the claws are strong, hooked, and black. It inhabits the warmer parts of the Andean chain, attaining an elevation of 3,000 ft., and is found also in Mexico ; it attacks fields of corn and other grain in large flocks, often committing serious .dep- redations ; it also feeds upon fruits and fleshy seed vessels; it is docile and easily tamed. These birds were great favorites with the Inca Peruvians, who kept them as pets and orna- mented their head dresses with their feathers. MACBETH, a Scottish chieftain of the llth century, and the hero of one of Shakespeare's tragedies, which invests him, however, with a character more legendary than historical. He seems to have been the vassal of Thorfinn, a Norwegian prince who had conquered the north of Scotland. King Duncan, in the ab- sence of Thorfinn, invaded the latter's territo- ries, which were defended by Macbeth, who defeated and killed Duncan in a battle near Elgin in 1039. Macbeth was then proclaimed king of Scotland. In 1054 he was defeated near Dunsinane by an English force under Si- ward, earl of Northumberland; and on Dec. 5, 1056 (or, as some have it, in April, 1057), he was defeated and killed at Lumphanan, by Macduff and Malcolm, the son of Duncan. Mal- colm was proclaimed king. MACCABEES. See ASMONEANS, and HEBREWS. MACCABEES, Books of, the collective title of four works belonging to the Old Testament Apocrypha, and containing principally the de- tails of the struggles of the Jews against ^ the religious and civil tyranny of the Syrian kings in the heroic period of the Maccabees or As- moneans. The books are connected only by their subjects, written by different authors, and of widely unequal literary merit. The first two in order are declared canonical by the councils of Florence and Trent, and are also contained in the original translation of Lu- ther. The first book of Maccabees contains a narration of the persecution of the Jews under Antiochus Epiphanes, their revolt under Mat- tathias and his sons, the- death of that old