9 
CORACIAS NAVIA. 103 
chin whitish ; cheeks and throat pale blue with streaks of silvery- 
blue ; remainder of under surface pale greenish blue; least wing- 
coverts rich ultramarine, the rest greenish blue; primaries blackish, 
externally marked with ultramarine, secondaries externally greenish 
blue, the innermost sandy brown like the back ; upper tail-coverts 
greenish blue; middle tail-feathers dirty green, the other feathers 
blue, paler towards the tip, the two outer ones tipped with dull blue; 
bill black ; feet yellowish brown ; iris dirty brown. Total length, 
12 inches; culmen, 1°3 ; wing, 7°6; tail, 4:4; tarsus, 0°7. 
The present species has not an elongated outer tail-feather, and 
therefore cannot be mistaken for O. abyssinica or OC. caudata, 
which it somewhat resembles in coloration. It approaches C. neevia 
in size and form of tail, but is differently coloured, and has no white 
nape patch. 
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Eur. part 1. 
99. CoRACIAS N&VIA. White-naped Roller. 
Coracias nuchalis, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 60. 
Le Vaillant procured this Roller in Caffraria. One specimen was 
shot near Middelburg on the eastern side of the colony, and sent to 
us by the late Mr. J. O’Reilly, magistrate of that place. Dr. Reid 
informs us that it is not unfrequent between Soutpans drift, Orange 
River, and Gricqua Town. 
Mr. Ayres says that in Natal it is “ not uncommon during summer, 
and it also occurs on the River Limpopo; it is generally found either 
solitary or in pairs:” Dr. Exton procured it at Kanye, and during his 
journey to the Matabili country, Mr. T. H. Buckley found the species 
fairly common. He obtained a specimen in the above locality in 
October, 1813, and again in the Transvaal in July. Mr. Ayres has 
also met with it in the last-named country. According to Mr. 
Andersson it is not uncommon throughout Damara Land and is also 
found in the Lake-regions. By Senor Anchieta it has been met with 
at Huilla and on the Rio Cunene. | Mr. Andersson gives the follow- 
ing excellent account of the habits :—“ It is usually met with in pairs, 
and is not particularly shy. It seldom extends its flight far, but 
occasionally rises suddenly to a considerable height, rocking violently 
to and fro, and descending in a similar manner, with a motion re- 
sembling that of a boy’s kite when falling to the ground on the 
guiding force being withdrawn. When on the wing it makes a great 
