HOLLERS 29 



The Nightjars lay two eggs on the ground, without 

 any attempt at nest-building, consequently the protective 

 nature of the bird's coloration is of great benefit to the 

 sitting parent. 



ROLLERS. 



The Boilers (Family Coraciida) are chiefly remarkable 

 for their beautiful many-tinted plumage. 



The first species is the European Roller (Coracias 

 garrulus), a regular visitor to Africa, migrating as far 

 south as the Cape. The European Roller breeds in 

 South and Central Europe, and is blue below and 

 cinnamon-brown above, with blue wings. In common 

 with the next species it has no elongated outer tail- 

 feathers. It is the only species which wanders as far 

 south as the Cape. 



\ 



The Purple Roller (C. mosambicus) has a reddish-lilac 



under surface streaked with white. 



The beautiful Lilac-breasted Roller (C. caudatus) is 

 green, blue and brown, with the breast of a purplish- 

 lilac tinge with white shaft-streaks, and the abdomen 

 blue. It is easily distinguished by the lengthened outer 

 tail-feathers, which are, however, not racquet-shaped at 

 the ends like those of the succeeding species. This bird 

 is not uncommon in the Transvaal bushveld. 



The Racquet-tailed Roller (C. spatulatus) is brown 

 above with blue wings, and cobalt-blue below. It can 

 be immediately distinguished by the expanded extremities 

 of the outer tail-feathers. 



The Rollers are all mainly insect feeders. They nest 

 in hollow trees and lay white eggs. They derive their 



