542 CORACIAS GARRULA. 



France and Germany, and even Denmark and Sweden. In 

 Britain, although its visits are rare and at uncertain periods, 

 it has been killed in Orkney on the one hand, in Cornwall on 

 the other, and in various intermediate places, chiefly along the 

 eastern coast. In 1835, an individual shot in the neighbour- 

 hood of Inverness was sent to Mr Carfrae in Edinburgh, to 

 be prepared. A specimen, now in decay, which has long 

 been in the Museum of the University of Edinburgh, is said 

 to have been shot at Dunkeld. Mr Selby mentions one that 

 was found dead in Northumberland, and at least two more have 

 been obtained in the same district. Several have also been pro- 

 cured in Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. The Roller how- 

 ever, while it is one of the most beautiful, is also one of the 

 rarest of our land birds ; and, as opportunities of observing its 

 actions so seldom occur, they have not been described by any 

 of our ornithologists. 



Of a shy and restless disjjosition, it prefers the forests and 

 solitary places, but sometimes associates with rooks and other 

 birds, searching the meadows and ploughed fields for food. It 

 lives chiefly on insects, but also eats slugs, worms, reptiles, and 

 soft fruits. Its flight is rapid, and it has been seen to descend 

 at times like the rook or tumbler-pigeon. Its voice is said to 

 be loud and harsh. It nestles in the hollows of trees, or, when 

 these are wanting, in holes Mdiich it digs in the banks of rivers. 

 The eggs are broadly elliptical, nearly an inch and a half in 

 length, smooth and of a glossy white. They are thus similar 

 to those of the Kingsfisher and Bee-eater, and this circumstance, 

 together with the similarity in the mode of nestling of these 

 birds, indicates an affinity of structure. 



Young. — According to Mr Yarrell, " young birds do not 

 attain to brilliant colours till their second year, previous to 

 which they are dull brown above, and greyish-green under- 

 neath."" 



