538 PSARIN^. 



most part gaudily coloured. Their habits are little known, but 

 it appears that they generally feed on insects. One species 

 ranks with us as a rare and accidental visitant. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. CORACIAS. ROLLER. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, rather wide at the base, 

 stout, compressed ; the upper mandible with the dorsal line 

 slightly arched and declinate, the edges nearly straight, with a 

 very slight sinus, the tip small, slender, declinate ; feet very 

 short ; tarsus with seven very broad scutella ; toes free ; second 

 considerably longer than the first, and much shorter than the 

 fourth ; claws moderate, arched, much compressed, laterally 

 grooved, acute ; strong decurved bristles at the base of the 

 upper mandible ; wings of moderate length, very broad, rather 

 rounded ; tail generally even ; of twelve broad feathers. 



1. Coracias garrula. Garrulous Boiler. Head, neck, and 

 lower parts pale bluish-green, back reddish-brown. 



