.'ild Mv. (Juy A. K. Marsliull on 



tiie larger cmkI. 'Die food consists chiefly of crepuscular 

 beetles. 



111. COUACIAS GAKRULUS. (iMiropcail l\oll(M-.) 



Masliouahuul is well supplied with Rollers, or " Blue 

 Jays" as they are locally called, all the South- African species 

 being found within our limits. The present is our only 

 migrant,, arriving from the north about Sei)tcnil)er and 

 leaving early in April. It has been fairly plentiful round 

 Salisbury this season, and probably breeds here, as young birds 

 have been observed in January and February. It is i'ond of 

 sitting on the summit of isolated trees in fairly open country, 

 especially along streams, and is noticeably tamer ami less 

 active than C. caudatus, permitting approach within gunshot 

 with comparative ease. Stomachs contained only beetles. 



112. CoRACiAs CAUDATUS. (Lilac-breastcd Roller.) 



This lovely bird is perhaps the commonest and most 

 generally distributed species of the genus in this part of South 

 Africa ; it is, moreover, much the most wary, being very 

 ditticult of approach, sitting on the topnu)st twigs of the 

 highest trees in the vicinity of rivers and making oil" with 

 discordant screams at the first sign of danger. During the 

 breeding-season it (presumably the male bird) will mount to 

 a considerable height with its curious rolling flight, rising in 

 stages and screaming all the while, then suddenly turning 

 over and diving straight down. 



I took a nest of this species at the Umfuli on the 24th 

 October, 1895. It was in a hole in a tree, about 20 feet from 

 the ground, and contained three white eggs, moderately 

 incubated ; two of these were nearly spherical, the third 

 being very pointed at one end — much like a Plover's egg in 

 shape. The stomachs of this bird usually contain small crabs, 

 locusts, mantides, and beetles (including Anthia pachyoma). 

 The occurrence of the last-named insect is of much interest, 

 as it is capable of ejecting a considerable quantity of a 

 powerful acid. 



113. CoRACiAs sPATULATUs. (Racquct-tailed Roller.) 

 This species appears to be very local, occurring only 



