456 



FAMILY TODID., OR TODIES ; ROLLERS. 



greater quantity is obtained from the Suluk Archipelago ; and 

 much also from Ceylon and New Guinea. It is calculated that 

 about thirty thousand tons of Chinese shipping are engaged in 

 the traffic ; and that the value of their freights is above 280,000/. 



410. The TODIDJE, or Todies^ have a remarkable depression 

 or horizontal flattening of the beak ; which is blunt at the end, 

 and has a gape extending as far back as the eyes. They are 

 mostly inhabitants of tropical climates ; some groups of the 

 family being restricted to South America and the West Indies, 

 and others to India and the Eastern Archipelago. They are 

 Birds of gaudy plumage and rapid flight ; they feed on worms, 

 insects, small reptiles, &c. ; and some species also devour berries. 

 The Rollers are the only representatives of this family in the 

 temperate parts of the Old World ; and they depart considerably 

 from its general form, the bill being much longer and narrower 

 than in the Todies, and hooked at the tip ; so that, except in its 

 wide gape and depression near the base, it somewhat resembles 

 that of the CorvidaB. One species, the Garrulous Roller, is an 



occasional visit- 

 ant of this coun- 

 try; it is about 

 the size of the 

 blue- winged jay, 

 and of rather ele- 

 gant appearance. 

 Its habits are shy 

 and solitary; but 

 it sometimes as- 

 sociates with 

 Rooks and other 

 Birds, searching 

 the meadows and 

 ploughed fields 



for food. This bird is much more common in the south of Europe, 

 but even there it appears to be a summer migrant from Africa. 



411. The TROGONIDJE, Trogons or Curucuis, have a short 

 conical beak, with the tip, and generally the margins, dentated 



FIG. 256. GARRULOUS ROLLER. 



