422 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



Roller Coracias. This genus comprises only a small number of 

 species, which, with the partial exception of that described below, 

 are inhabitants of the hot regions of Asia and Africa. In all of 

 these birds the plumage is very beautifully coloured, brilliant 

 light bluish-green and ultramarine being the predominant tints. 



224. Roller [BLAU-EAKE]. 

 CORACIAS GARRULA, Linn. 1 



Coracias garrula. Namnann, ii. 158. 



Boiler. Dresser, v. 141. 



Rollier vulgaire. Temminck, Manuel, i. 127, iii. 72. 



Only three of these birds have been killed here during my time 

 of residence one of which was in Reymers' possession about fifty 

 years ago ; and since then two other examples, now in my collection, 

 have occurred, the last of which was shot on the 25th of May 1881. 



This species is found breeding from Portugal to Farther India, 

 but nowhere very numerously. It occurs as a common breeding 

 species in northern Germany ; scattered examples have also occurred 

 in southern Sweden ; and it has even strayed as far north as the 

 Waranger Fjord. 



Cuckoo Cuculus. This genus embraces a considerable number 

 of species that are resident in Asia, Africa, and some even in 

 America, but of which one only can be regarded as a common 

 European breeding bird. There is, indeed, an African species, 

 Cuculus glandarius, which annually visits the south of Spain, 

 and also breeds, which means that it deposits its eggs in the 

 nests of the magpies resident there, leaving to them the task of 

 hatching them, and rearing the young. This species, however, is 

 of extremely rare occurrence in the rest of Europe, having only 

 been met with twice in Germany and England, though it is 

 frequently seen in the south of Greece. Besides this species, an 

 American species, Cuculus erythrophthalmus, has once occurred in 

 England (Harting, British Birds, p. 124), and another likewise 

 American species, Cuculus americanus, has been observed and 

 killed in the same country in no less than six instances ; the latter, 

 however, though its call-note ' Ku ku ku ' resembles that of our 

 species, is distinguished from its European kinsfolk by the fact 

 that it builds its own nests, and, like honest parents, rears its 

 own posterity. 



1 Coracias <ja)rulus (Linn.). 



