ROSACES. 



577 



they range farther to the north, for numbers of them 

 cross the Baltic. They are, however, much more 

 rare in the west of the continent, being rarely found 

 in France farther north than Strasburg, and rarely, if 

 ever in Holland, even as stragglers. 



The length of the common roller is about thirteen 

 inches, and it is a iirm and compact bird in propor- 

 tion to its length. The upper parts are of a brownish- 

 fawn colour ; the top of the head and upper part of 

 the neck blue with green reflections ; the lesser 

 coverts of the wings bright violet-blue ; the quills 

 \vaved with blue, dull green, and fawn colour ; the 

 middle tail-feathers greenish-grey, and aquamarine 

 green on the under sides; those next them dull green, 

 and the external ones, which are a little longer than 

 the rest, are of this same colour ; the under parts of 

 the body are aquamarine blue ; and the bill and feet 

 are reddish-yellow. The eggs vary from fourto seven, 

 and they are of a shining white, which is the general 

 colour of those of the genus. 



ABYSSINIAN ROLLER (C. Abyssinica) is a larger 

 species than the one which visits Europe, measuring 

 sixteen or seventeen inches in length. The back is 

 orange-brown ; the forehead, a streak over the eyes, 

 and the chin, are white ; the top of the head, the 

 neck, the middle and greater coverts of the wings, 

 and all the under parts of the body, are sea-green ; 

 the lesser wing-coverts and the scapulars are bright 

 azure ; the quills are rich blue, with the lips and 

 margins of the inner webs black ; the middle tail- 

 feathers are greenish-black, the next ones blue at the 

 basal part, and sea-green at the terminal, and the ex- 

 ternal ones, which are considerably longer than the 

 rest, are sea-green at their bases, then crossed by a 

 band of blue and black in the remaining portion 

 towards the tips ; the bill is black with the ex- 

 ception of the base of the lower mandible, which 

 is white ; and the feet are reddish. The female is 

 smaller, has the lateral feathers of the tail less pro- 

 duced, and all the colours duller. The young have 

 the upper part mottled with green and reddish, and 

 the front, throat, breast, and flanks reddish. This 

 is a very handsome bird ; but it is subject to some 

 variations of colour, and very little is known of its 

 habits. 



BENGAL ROLLER (C. Bengalensis), is perhaps not 

 very accurately named after Bengal, as some of the 

 authorities state that it is also found in Southern 

 Africa. The upper parts are violet-green, with the 

 lower part of the back and the rump clouded with 

 green and blue. The larger coverts of the wings are 



NAT. HIST. VOL. III. 



sea-green, the middle ones are clouded with green and 

 blue, and the lesser and also the upper tail-coverts, are 

 light blue ; the quills are variegated with deep blue, 

 sea-green, and black ; the middle tail-feathers are black- 

 ish-green; and the others are deep blue at their 

 bases, and black toward the tips and in the outer 

 margins ; the cheeks and lower neck are violet 

 streaked with white ; the throat is reddish, the breast 

 russet, and the under parts sea-green ; the bill is 

 black and the feet grey ; the length about thirteen 

 inches. The female is rather smaller than the male, 

 and has the front and the under part of the body 

 reddish-white. The young have the anterior part of 

 the head and the ear-coverts white ; and the top of 

 the head and upper part of the neck reddish-violet ; 

 the breast and belly are of the same ground colour, 

 but they are streaked longitudinally with white ; the 

 upper parts are olive-green clouded with red; the 

 coverts of the wings violet-red ; the bill brown ; 

 and the feet red. There are some doubts about the 

 bird being a native of Southern Africa, though it is 

 thus stated by some authorities. It is rare indeed that 

 the same species of animal, be it what it may, occurs in 

 both these countries ; and there have been so many 

 instances of productions of India and the oriental isles 

 being purchased at the Cape as African, that we require 

 very strong evidence, in fact that of the very party 

 who met with them alive in the wild state, before we 

 can be secure against this kind of imposition. It is 

 true that India and Africa are more abundant in birds 

 of the genus than any other parts of the world ; but, 

 except in this instance, if it really be an exception, 

 all the species of the one locality are different from 

 those of the other. 



BLUE-BILLED ROLLER (C. cyanogaster). This is an 

 African species measuring about fourteen inches in 

 length. The upper parts are olive-brown ; the head, 

 neck, and breast reddish, clouded with green ; the 

 rump and wing-coverts are blue ; the quills green at 

 the base, then blue and afterwards black at the tips ; 

 the tail-feathers are green ; the neck and breast 

 greenish-red ; the under parts blue ; and the bill 

 black, and feet grey. 



GREEN ROLLER (C. viridis). This is an Indian 

 species about a foot in length. It is sea-green in the 

 general plumage ; but has the forehead and throat 

 reddish-white, and the rump and tail-coverts bluish- 

 green ; the bill is black and the feet reddish. 



TEMMINCK'S ROLLER (C. Tcmminckii) is an Indian 

 species, about the same dimensions as the last-men- 

 tioned, but different in the colours. The upper parts 

 are green ; the top of the head, the nape, and the 

 crest, are aquamarine blue ; the neck, rump, coverts, 

 throat, and all the under parts are bright shining 

 blue ; the bill is black, and the feet are reddish- 

 brown. 



There are several other species of roller, some 

 natives of India, some of Africa, and some of Aus- 

 tralia ; but, excepting in size and colour, they do not 

 differ from those which have been already noticed. 

 Indeed, though the rollers are unquestionably very 

 beautiful birds, there are very few genera which have 

 got a shorter, or even so short, a story to tell. Ex- 

 cepting m their mere external appearance, and the 

 countries which they inhabit, any one of them may 

 be"an index to the whole race. 



ROSACE^E. A natural order, embracing the 

 greater part of the Linnaean class Icosandria, and a 

 very conspicuous order of Jussieu's sub-class Cah/- 

 00 



