MEROPID^. 65 
is marked or striated with a faint black line on the centre of the 
feathers of the white breast. The brain of this, as in all Swifts 
that I have examined, is small for the size of the bird. 
Family CoraciidjE. 
49, CoRACiAS GARRULA, Linn. The Roller. 
Moorish. Sharrakrak. Spanish. Carlanco, Carraca. 
" This bird is seen in numbers near Tangier on passage, 
migrating in pairs and crossing the Straits in April and May, 
returning in August to retire further south. Their food is 
all kinds of insects, even scorpions. ^^ — Favier, 
The Roller breeds at Larache, nesting in holes of the 
walls of the ramparts at the end of April. I did not 
observe any elsewhere in Morocco, except about the ruins 
of "old Tangier.^ ^ 
In Andalucia they are also very local. I have seen one or 
two in May near Casa Vieja ; but they are not common nearer 
to Gibraltar than the vicinity of Seville. Thence along the 
valley of the Guadalquivir to Cordova they abound. I never 
saw one about Gibraltar. They arrive during the latter 
end of March, leaving by September. Nesting in holes of 
trees, walls, and ruins, they lay (about the 14th of April) from 
four to six shining white eggs. 
Family Meropid.k. 
50. Merops apiaster. The Bee-eater. 
Moorish. El Leeamoon. Spanish. Abejaruco. 
*' The Bee-eater is seen on passage near Tangier in great 
flights, which attract notice from their cry. They arrive and 
cross over to Europe during March and April, returning in 
August, many remaining to breed. They nest in May, the 
eggs varying in shape, being some oval, some oblong." — 
Favier. 
This bird did not appear to me to be quite so common in 
Morocco at the end of April as on the Spanish side of the 
Straits, where during April, May, June, and July it is one 
of the most conspicuous birds in the country ; at that season 
F 
