270 SYNDACTYL.^. 



an insect, and having seized it, return to the same 

 spot. Their nest is placed in a hole of some decayed 

 tree. The female lays four or five eggs. 



The Garrulous Jay, or Common Roller {Corcvcias gar- 

 rula), is an inhabitant of Africa, but visits Europe, and 

 even Great Britain, in the summer time. On the steppes 

 oi Southern Russia it is almndant, and goes by the name 

 of the Stepi)e Parrot, partly on account of its scpialling 

 voice, partly on account of its beautiful ]>lumage, in 

 which green, blue, yellow, and black strive for supre- 

 macy ; indeed, it is described as " resembling a moving 

 rainbow " when flymg in the sunshine. In Malta and 

 the Mediterranean islands it stays throughout the summer, 

 and breeds. In central Europe it usually inhabits dense 

 forests, where it builds its nest in the holes of trees, gene- 

 rally preferring the birch ; whence it is known in Germany 

 as the Birch Jay. Where trees are scarce, as in Maltii, 

 it breeds upon the ground, or in holes of old buildings ; 

 and in the treeless regions of Southern Russia it makes 

 its nest in holes in the clay banks of rivers. Its eggs, 

 which are usually four in number, are exactly similar in 

 shape and in their j^ure white colour, to those of our 

 common Kingfisher and Bee-eater, to which it is nearly 

 related. It is a noisy and restless bird. In the autumn 

 the young become very fat, and acquire a good flavour, 

 so tliat they are eagerly sought after for the table. 



