272 ROLLER. 



Asia Minor, Palestine, Persia, and temperate Asia generally, as far 

 north as Omsk in Siberia. Southward, we find it in Cashmere and 

 North-western India, where it meets with the closely-allied C. hidiais, 

 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, which it traverses 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 in the wall of a ruined fortress, or in a high 

 bank ; in the two latter a bedding of roots, grass, feathers and hair is 

 accumulated, but in trees the bare wood or at most a few chips suffice. 

 The eggs, often globular, but sometimes elongarted, are glossy white 

 and usually 5-6 in number : average measurements i'4 by I'l 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 somer- 

 saults in the air, and uttering a harsh cry which the Germans 

 syllable as 'Racker-racker' and the Spaniards as 'Carlanco-carlanco'; 

 at other times the bird is merely restless, flying from branch to 

 branch with flapping, uncertain flight ; 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 7 '8 in. The sexes are 

 alike in plumage ; the young bird is much more dingy and less pro- 

 nounced in colour. 



The late Dr. Bree has stated that a male of the Abyssinian Roller, 

 C. leiicocephahis, 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. The story is 

 given, like many others, for what it is worth. 



