EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 167 



THE COMMON ROLLER. 



(Coracias garrulus.) 

 Plate 48, Fig. 14. 



Although this conspicuous bird occurs almost every year in our 

 islands, it can only be regarded as an accidental straggler to 

 them, chiefly on autumn migration. It breeds in most parts of 

 Europe south of lat. 60°, but is only of occasional occurrence in 

 the north of France, Belgium, Holland, and the British Islands. 

 It is a summer visitor to Algeria, and to Turkestan, Afghanistan, 

 Cashmere, and the Punjab. It also breeds in South-west Siberia 

 as far north as Omsk, and as far east as the Altai Mountains. 



The Roller generally chooses a hole in a rock or a tree in which 

 to lay its eggs ; but it often makes use of a hole in a bank or in a 

 wall or building. 



The eggs are from three or four to six in number, somewhat 

 globular in form, and pure and glossy white in colour. They 

 vary considerably in size, typical examples measuring from 155 

 to 1-4 inch in length, and from 12 to 11 inch in breadth, whilst 

 unusually small specimens only measure 12 by 1 inch. Their 

 beautifully polished surface and globular form distinguish them 

 from those of the Pigeons ; and their large size prevents them 

 being readily confused with those of the British Woodpeckers. 



The Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinieus) and the Indian 

 Roller (Coracias indicus) have both been said to occur once in 

 Great Britain. There is nothing distinctive about their eggs, 

 which resemble those of the Common Roller. 



FAMILY UP UP ID &, 



OB HOOPOES. 



THE HOOPOE. 



(Upupa epops.) 



Plate 48, Figs. 1, 4. 



The Hoopoe may almost be regarded as a regular summer 

 migrant to the British Islands. Scarcely a year passes without 

 specimens being obtained, and it has bred in most of the southern 



