THE ROLLER. 45 



triangular spot, formed by the naked skin ; the iris of the eye 

 is grey ; the whole of the head, the neck, the throat, the 

 breast, the belly, the large wing-coverts, and all the under- 

 coverts, are of a beautiful bluish green ; the tail is of a dusky 

 blue green near the base, becoming gradually lighter towards 

 the end. 



The female and young ones of the first year have the head, 

 neck, breast, and belly of a reddish grey tinged with bluish 

 green; the back and the last quill-feathers are of a light 

 greyish brown ; the rump is green, tinged with indigo ; the 

 tail blackish with a tint of blue green ; the rest like the male. 



HABITATION. In its \vihl state the roller may be found in Europe and 

 the northern parts of Africa ; it only frequents a few spots in Germany, 

 and prefers forests and sandy plains to high mountains : elsewhere it is 

 only seen during the time of its passage*. 



In the house it may be let range at will after the wings are clipt. 



FOOD. When wild, its principal food is insects and worms ; it also 

 eats small frogs, bulbous roots, acorns, and grains of corn. 



BREEDING.' The nest, placed in the hole of a tree, is made of small 

 twigs, hay, feathers, and bristles. It lays from four to seven white eggs, 

 on which the male takes his turn to sit during eighteen or twenty days. 

 The young ones do not acquire their fine colours till the second year; 

 previous to this period the head, neck, and breast are of a whitish grey. 



I had till lately thought that this bird was untamable ; but Dr. Meyer 

 of Offenbach has convinced me to the contrary, having himself reared them 

 several times, and kept them in his room. This is his method : 



The young ones must be taken from the nest when only half grown, 

 and fed on little bits of cow's heart, or any other meat which is lean and 

 tender, till they can eat alone ; small frogs, worms, and insects may then 

 be added. The means which it takes to kill and swallow these insects 

 are curious enough ; it begins by seizing and crushing them with its beak, 

 and then throws them into the air several times, in order to receive them 

 in its throat, which is very capacious. When the piece is too large, or 

 the insect still alive, it strikes it hard against the ground, and begins again 

 to throw it in the air, till falling not across, but so as to thread the throat, 

 it may be easily swallowed. 



After having been fed thus long enough, a little barleymeal may be 

 mixed with the meat. I have eve-n brought it to eat bread, vegetables, 

 and softened oatmeal, but it always prefers cow's heart. I have never 

 seen it drink. 



* It appears that in its course from Sweden to Algiers it does not range beyond 

 a degree in longitude, and is rarely found in Britain. Few birds of this group, 

 as far as has hitherto been observed, wander to the right or left during their 

 migration. The roller frequents shady and solitary woods, and its character is 

 well adapted to them. TRANSLATOR. 



