154 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



TJ. epops major Brchm. Similar to typical form, but bill longer 

 and stroni^er, about 6 m.m. longer; upper parts duller, more vinous. 

 Rcsfdenf. — Egypt, from Delta to Assouan. 



CORACI^. 



Bill short and strong, tip decurvcd ; lo primaries ; 

 tail feathers 12; nest in holes in trees or buildings; 

 eggs white. 



CORACIID-^. 



Characters as in the Order. 



CORACIAS. 



Bill hard, straight, narrower at base than long ; rictal 

 bristles few and short. 



Coracias garrulus garrulus L. Roller. Fr. Rollier ; 

 Ger. Mandelkrahe ; Ital. Ghiandaia marina ; Sined Blakraka. 



^ $ General colour light blue ; lesser wing coverts, under 

 surface of quills, rump and shorter upper tail coverts dark blue ; 

 back, scapulars and inner secondaries cinnamon. Bill dark horn 

 brown. Legs and feet yellowish. Wing $ 192-205, ? 183-205. 

 Tarsus 23-24. Bill 26-30. 



Breeds. — Continental Europe from about 61'' in Norway and 

 Russia to Mediterranean, Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Meso- 

 potamia ; NAV. Africa ; rare in Urals and Denmark, irregular 

 in Switzerland. Rare visitor Britain, Holland, Belgium, Baltic 

 Provinces, Sardinia. Migrates ; occurs Egypt on passage. 

 Winters S. Arabia and tropical and S. Africa. 



HALCYONES. 



Plumage glossy and close lying; primaries 11, 

 1st small; tail feathers usually 12; tarsus short; feet 

 anisodactyl, 3 toes in front and i behind, 3rd and 4th 

 united for greater part of their length, 2nd and 3rd 

 at basal joint only ; head large, bill long and straight ; 

 nest in tunnels ; eggs white, rounded. 



