CORACIID^l 



CORACIAS 



The male and fernafe are alike in size and colour. Keichenow 

 states that the African birds differ from those of Europe and Asia, 

 in having a strongly-marked greenish tinge on the head and neck. 

 He suggests that either the African form is a sub-species, or 

 perhaps that, if it is a migrant from Europe, it undergoes a double 

 moult on arrival and before departure. 



Distribution. The Koller is found all over Central Europe, 

 western Asia as far as Kashmir, and Northern Africa, where it 

 breeds ; it passes through Egypt and north-east Africa on migra- 

 tion, and winters in east and south Africa. Within our limits it 

 is rare south of the Orange Eiver, in fact single specimens only 

 have been noted from Springbokfontein in Namaqualand, by 

 Layard, and from East London by Eickard, while Mr. Pym writes 

 that he shot one of a pair close to King Williams Town in February, 

 1902. * The following are other recorded localities: Natal 

 Umbilo Eiver, near Durban, January and February (S. A. Mus.), 

 Pinetown in January (Shelley) ; Orange Eiver Colony Kroon- 

 stad in May (Syrnonds) ; Transvaal Komatipoort in January 

 (S. A. Mus.), Barberton (Eandall), Potchefstroom in December 

 (Ayres), Eustenburg (S. A. Mus.) ; Bechuanaland Palapye in 

 December (Ayres) ; Ehodesia Tati in March (Oates), near Salis- 

 bury, September to April (Marshall), Pandamatenka, November 

 (Holub) ; Damaraland Ondonga and Otjimbinque in January 

 (Andersson). 



Habits. The European Eoller appears to be nowhere very 

 common in South Africa. According to Marshall it arrives from 

 the north in September and leaves again in April ; and he further 

 states that he believes that it breeds in Mashonaland, as he saw 

 young birds in January and February, but further evidence is 

 required to confirm this, as the same bird breeds in Europe in the 

 northern summer. The European Eoller is fond of sitting motion- 

 less on the top of isolated trees in open country, and is often seen 

 perched on telegraph wires. It is a somewhat tamer and more 

 sluggish bird than 0. caudatus. Its food consists of large grass- 

 hoppers and beetles taken from the ground, and it becomes very fat 

 at times. 



In Europe the eggs, five to six in number, and glossy-white in 

 colour, are laid in a hollow tree or a hole in a wall, or even in a 



* A pair, recently received by the South African Museum, was obtained at 

 Port St. John in January by Mr. Shortridge. 



