539 



CORACIAS. ROLLER. 



The Rollers are birds generally of the size of a Jay, and 

 somewhat resembling that species in form, but with much 

 shorter feet, and remarkable for the bright colours with which 

 their plumage is adorned. They seem to be connected with 

 the Thremmaphilinfe by the genus Gracula, and with the Al- 

 cedinae by Merops, which they resemble in colouring; but 

 their general form seems to me to indicate a greater affinity to the 

 Laniinas and Myiotherinae than to the families just mentioned. 



Their body is rather full ; the neck short ; the head large 

 and roundish. The bill nearly as long as the head, opening to 

 beneath the eyes, rather wide at the base, but presently com- 

 pressed, and higher than broad ; upper mandible with the dor- 

 sal outline slightly arched and declinate, the sides rapidly 

 sloping and convex, the ridge obtuse, the edges acute, with a 

 slight sinus close to the small, deflected, rather acute tip ; 

 lower mandible with the angle moderate, the dorsal line nearly 

 straight, the tip narrow, and obliquely truncate. Nostrils 

 basal, lateral, oblique, linear, rather long, partially concealed 

 by the feathers, which are not directed forwards. Eyes of 

 moderate size, with a bare triangular space behind. Feet very 

 short ; tarsus with seven very broad scutella ; hind toe rather 

 small, second shorter than the third, anterior toes free. Claws 

 of moderate length, arched, much compressed, slender, acute. 



Plumage rather full, blended. Several strong decurved bris- 

 tles on each side of the mouth. Wings of moderate length, 

 very broad ; the second and third quills longest ; the primaries 

 not much exceeding the secondaries when the wing is closed. 

 Tail rather long, generally even, of twelve broad feathers. 



The Rollers are peculiar to the old continent and its islands, 

 species occurring in the warmer parts of Asia, and in Africa, 

 and one of them extending into Europe. 



