Their Eggs and Nests. 1 37 



FAMILY v.— CORACIDiE. 



ROLLER — {Coracias garrula). 



Garrulous Roller. — Very rarely met with in Eng- 

 land. 



FAMILY VI.— MEROPIDiE. 



BEE-EATER— (i^^r^/^ apiaster). 



An African bird, which strays occasionally so far 

 to the North as to reach Britain, and be claimed as a 

 British bird. 



FAMILY VIL— ALCEDINID^. 



KINGFISHER— (^/r^^^ ispidd). 



Beyond doubt, as far as exceeding brilliancy of 

 plumage goes, the most beautiful of our indigenous 

 birds. I have never seen it in any part of the king- 

 dom a numerous bird, though in my fishing and other 

 excursions in Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Hereford- 

 shire, I used to see many pairs ; each, however, 

 domiciled at some distance from its nearest neighbours. 

 In the district of North Yorkshire I am best ac- 

 quainted with I have rarely seen it. Its straight, 

 arrow-like, speeding flight is sure to be remembered, 

 when once seen, and so is the odour inseparable from 

 its nest hole or other stated haunt. A hole, sloping 

 upwards, in the bank of the water it most frequents, 

 whether pond, stream, marsh, ditch, or large river, is 



