ROLLER. 11 



worms, snail*, u; id berries; and when these cannot be had, 

 on fr said, and even carrion. The indigestible part 



of tlieir food is cast up in pellets, as with the Hawks and 

 Owls. They are said never to drink. 



The Roller is a noisy and clamorous bird, like the Jay, 

 and its voice is described as a mere squall, or chatter, re- 

 sembling that of the Magpie. Meyer renders it by the words 

 '\vrah-wrah.' 'rakker-rakker,' and 'crea.' 



The nest, composed of small fibres, straws, feathers, and 

 hair, is built in the hollows of trees, but also where tre3s are 

 scarce, on the ground, or in holes of banks. In the former 

 fche birch is said to be preferred; whence its German 

 name of the 'Birch Jay.' The same situation is resorted to 

 again and again if the birds have not been disturbed. 



The eggs, of a rotund form, are four or five to six or 

 seven in number, and of a shining white, like those of the 

 Dee-eater and Kingfisher. The male and female sit on them 

 by turns, and they are hatched in about three weeks; during 

 which time the latter is so devoted to her task, that she 

 will frequently allow herself to be captured on the nest. The 

 young are fed with insects and caterpillars, and the parents 

 exhibit a strong attachment towards them. 



Male; length, about one foot one inch; bill, yellowish 

 brnv/u at the base, black at the tip; iris, reddish brown; 

 there is a small bare tubercle behind each eye; a few bristles 

 surround the base of the bill. Forehead, whitish; head, neck, 

 and nape, pale iridescent bluish green; chin, greyish white; 

 throat, dark purple; breast, pale bluish green; back, pale 

 reddish brown. 



The wings expand to the width of two feet four inches, 

 an 1 extend to two thirds of the tail; baneith they are a 

 splendid blue; greater and lesser wing coverts, intense greenish 

 blue. The primaries have a bar of pale purple at the base, 

 and are bluish black at the tips; the two iirst have their 

 narrow webs black tinged with green, the four next pale blue 

 to the middle, then gradually darker, ending in black; the 

 other quills still darker; the first feather is rather longer 

 than the fourth, the second rather longer than the third, and 

 the longest in the wing; secondaries, greenish blue at the 

 base, with a bar of pale purple; beneath, rich blue; tertiaries, 

 yellowish brown; larger and lesser under wing coverts, greenish. 

 The tail, of twelve feathers, has the outermost ones, which 

 are elongated in the male bird, pale ultramarine blue, tipped 



