328 BRITISH BIRDS. 
instead of chestnut. This species is a resident throughout the Indian 
peninsula and Ceylon, extending westwards into Afghanistan and Persia. 
In the two latter countries, as well as in Cashmere and the Punjaub, its 
range overlaps that of the Common Roller, which is said by Blyth to inter- 
breed with it (Blyth & Wald. B. Burm. p. 72). I have not been able to 
find any evidence of the accuracy of this statement, and am inclined to 
think it is an error; but there can be no doubt that the Indian Roller 
interbreeds with the Burmese Roller in Eastern Bengal, where the ranges 
of these two species overlap. The latter species, C. affinis, is a resident 
throughout the Burma peninsula, including Siam and Cochin China. 
These two species are very nearly allied ; but, im addition to some minor 
characters, the Indian Roller may at once be distinguished by the tail- 
feathers being broadly tipped with purple. 
The migration of the Roller into Europe commences generally about 
the end of March and lasts until the beginning of May; whilst its 
migration southwards in autumn begins as early as August in the extreme 
northern portions of its range, and lasts until the end of September in the 
south. This conspicuous bird is by no means confined to the forest 
districts. It loves to haunt those localities which are well timbered, but 
only those which have plenty of open space between the trees, and it is 
specially fond of broad open plains which are studded here and there with 
trees. It also frequents broad stretches of reeds, on which it is said to 
perch on the look out for the frogs below; and I have frequently seen it 
sitting on earth-clumps in ploughed fields on the look out for beetles. 
The Roller appears to journey from its winter-retreats in large flocks 
which, when they have reached their breeding-grounds, seem in no hurry 
to disperse. ‘Tristram observed this species in Palestine on the 4th of 
April near Mount Tabor; and on the 12th of that month great flocks of 
these birds congregated just before sunset on the trees near a fountain, 
where they were as noisy as Rooks, but not so orderly in their move- 
ments. These birds were evidently on migration, and were probably pairing 
as they went, for at the end of a week they had all dispersed. After a 
volley of discordant screams one or two birds were observed to start 
from their perch and commence a series of gambols and somersaults in 
the air; then in a moment or two the whole flock followed their example, 
this strange performance being repeated many times in succession. In 
that country, as well as in Asia Minor, the Roller is very fond of haunting 
the villages, and it often takes up its quarters in the ruined churches 
and mosques. 
The Roller is a very restless bird, incessantly changing its quarters, 
flitting from tree to tree, now alighting on the ground for a few moments, 
then flymg onwards again with a discordant cry if alarmed. In a tree 
it generally uses its wings to convey it from branch to branch; and on 
