282 ROLLER. 



Palestine, Persia, and temperate Asia as far to the north-east as 

 Omsk in Siberia ; while southward, it is found in Kashmir and 

 North-western India, where it meets with the closely allied C. i?idiais, 

 the breast of which is vinous-purple instead of blue. In the north 

 of Africa it is common in summer, but even there it does not pass 

 the winter ; nor does it breed in Egypt, though it traverses that 

 country on its way to and from South Africa. During the cold 

 season it inhabits the lower half of that continent down to Cape 

 Colony and Natal. 



In wooded districts the nesting-place selected is some hollow in a 

 tree, but quite as often it is in the wall of a ruined fortress or in 

 a high bank ; in these a bedding of roots, grass, feathers and hair 

 is accumulated, but when in trees, the bare wood or a few chips 

 suffice. The 5-6 eggs, often globular, but sometimes elongated, are 

 glossy white : measurements i'4 by i"i in. Incubation lasts nearly 

 three weeks, commencing early or late in May, according to the 

 country. During the breeding-season the male indulges in some 

 extraordinary tumbling antics, turning somersaults in the air, and 

 uttering a harsh cry which the Germans syllable as racker-7-ackei- 

 and the Spaniards as carlaiico-carlanco ; but at other times the bird 

 is merely restless, flying from branch to branch with flapping, 

 uncertain flight ; while, like the Bee-eater, it may frequently be seen 

 sitting on telegraph-wires. The food consists of beetles and other 

 insects captured on the ground. On migration the Roller is 

 observed in large flocks. 



The adult has the head and nape greenish-blue , mantle chestnut- 

 brown ; upper wing-coverts dark blue ; greater wing-coverts and 

 bases of primaries light blue, quills black ; tail-feathers dark blue 

 at the bases and in the middle, and pale blue on the lower portions; 

 chin white ; under parts light blue ; bill dark horn-colour ; legs and 

 feet yellowish-brown. Length 12 in. ; wing 77 in. The sexes are 

 alike in plumage ; the young bird is much more dull and less 

 pronounced in colour. 



The late Dr. Bree stated that a male of the Ab}ssinian Roller was 

 killed near Glasgow about 1857, and a female later, some forty 

 miles off ; the former was preserved by Mr. Small of Edinburgh, 

 and is said to be in the Paisley Museum. In October 1883 a bird 

 shot near Louth, Lincolnshire, was identified at a taxidermist's by 

 Mr. Cordeaux as our C. garrulus, but in 1890 a specimen, said to be 

 the very same bird, proved on examination to be the Indian Roller, 

 C. indiais (Ibis 1891, p. 147). 



