THE


AviCULTURAL MAGAZINE


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY

FOR THE STUDY OF

FOREIGN & BRITISH BIRDS

IN FREEDOM & CAPTIVITY


Third Series.— Vol. XII— No. 2.— All rights reserved. FEBRUARY, 1921.


MY LONG-TAILED ROLLER


By Jean Delacour


If I was asked which I prefer of the birds I actually possess, I think

the reply would be : " My Long-tailed Roller," although there are some

good birds in my cages, such as Cuban Trogon, King Bird of Paradise.

Giant, Hoary, and Black-collared Barbets, Cossyphas, several species

of Sun-birds, Black-backed Tanager (Calliste melanonota), etc., and

nearly all of them are very tame and amusing. The only bird which

might almost surpass the Roller is a charming purple-capped Lory,

whose affection for my attendant and myself is really wonderful, and

makes one think of a pet dog.


But the Roller possesses altogether the four most important qualities

for a bird in captivity : beautiful plumage, tameness, sensibility, and

rarity. Rollers are amongst the most difficult birds to keep in good

condition. At liberty they feed mostly on the wing, and they need

much exercise to keep in good health. As they fear the cold and can

only be kept in summer in an outdoor aviary, it is rather difficult to

give them enough room to fly about and a good temperature all the

year round, unless the bird is so tame that it can be handled at any

time, and this is the case with mine.


Another thing is that it is often difficult to accustom Rollers to

captivity ; Major Millet-Horsin, Medical Officer to the French Colonial

Army, who has spent years in studying and catching birds in Africa,


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