1919-] Birds of the Canary Islands. 477 



Family CoraciidjE. 



Coracias garrulus garrulus. Roller, 



Coracias garrulus Linn. Syst. Nat. 10th ed. 1758, p. 107 — 

 Type locality : Sweden. 



The Roller comes under the heading of an Occasional 

 Visitor during the spring and autumn migrations to the 

 Archipelago. 



In certain years, as in 1890 when many were captured 

 in Tenerife, it is iiot by any means uncommon, while in 

 other years it may not be noticed at all. It usually occurs 

 in the months of May and September. 



Bolle records a flock of twenty from Puerto Cabras, 

 Fuerteveutura, noting that two were shot and preserved 

 as they were very fatigued after their long flight over the 

 sea (J. f. O. 1854, p. 452) ; in a later paper he remarks 

 that the Roller is well known in the island of Canaria 

 (Gran Canaria), "where it is said to arrive often in winter 

 in large numbers very much fatigued " (J. f, O. 1857, 

 p. 277). 



Meade-Waldo considered it not very uncommon at 

 migration time, and mentions seeing a mounted example 

 in Cabrera^s collection (Ibis, 1889, p. 515). 



Cabrera says it is rather frequent in May and September 

 (Catalogo, p. 38), and had various specimens in his collection 

 killed in the years 1890-1892. 



Polatzek found it rare in the eastern islands (Orn. Jahrb. 

 1909, p. 120). 



Von Thauner records a specimen shot in Tenerife on the 

 19th of May, 1912, and remarks (Orn. Jahrb. 1912, 

 p. 227) : " During these days a hot and strong south- 

 east wind blew, bringing sand from Africa." 



Range. The Roller breeds in Europe and north-western 

 Africa and in winter ranges to South Africa. 



2l? 



