328 BRITISH BIRDS. 



instead of chestnut. This species is a resident throughout the Indian 

 peninsula and Ceylon, extending westwards into Afghanistan and Persia. 

 In the two latter countries, as well as in Cashmere and the Punjaub, its 

 range overlaps that of the Common Roller, which is said by Ely th to inter- 

 breed with it (Blyth & Wald. B. Burm. p. 72). I have not been able to 

 find any evidence of the accuracy of this statement, and am inclined to 

 think it is an error ; but there can be no doubt that the Indian Roller 

 interbreeds with the Burmese Roller in Eastern Bengal, where the ranges 

 of these two species overlap. The latter species, C. affinis, is a resident 

 throughout the Burma peninsula, including Siam and Cochin China. 

 These two species are very nearly allied ; but, in addition to some minor 

 characters, the Indian Roller may at once be distinguished by the tail- 

 feathers being broadly tipped with purple. 



The migration of the Roller into Europe commences generally about 

 the end of March and lasts until the beginning of May ; whilst its 

 migration southwards in autumn begins as early as August in the extreme 

 northern portions of its range, and lasts until the end of September in the 

 south. This conspicuous bird is by no means confined to the forest 

 districts. It loves to haunt those localities which are well timbered, but 

 only those which have plenty of open space between the trees, and it is 

 specially fond of broad open plains which are studded here and there with 

 trees. It also frequents broad stretches of reeds, on which it is said to 

 perch on the look out for the frogs below ; and I have frequently seen it 

 sitting on earth-clumps in ploughed fields on the look out for beetles. 

 The Roller appears to journey from its winter-retreats in large flocks 

 which, when they have reached their breeding-grounds, seem in no hurry 

 to disperse. Tristram observed this species in Palestine on the 4th of 

 April near Mount Tabor; and on the 12th of that month great flocks of 

 these birds congregated just before sunset on the trees near a fountain, 

 where they were as noisy as Rooks, but not so orderly in their move- 

 ments. These birds were evidently on migration, and were probably pairing 

 as they went, for at the end of a week they had all dispersed. After a 

 volley of discordant screams one or two birds were observed to start 

 from their perch and commence a series of gambols and somersaults in 

 the air ; then in a moment or two the whole flock followed their example, 

 this strange performance being repeated many times in succession. In 

 that country, as well as in Asia Minor, the Roller is very fond of haunting 

 the villages, and it often takes up its quarters in the ruined churches 

 and mosques. 



The Roller is a very restless bird, incessantly changing its quarters, 

 flitting from tree to tree, now alighting on the ground for a few moments, 

 then flying onwards again with a discordant cry if alarmed. In a tree 

 it generally uses its wings to convey it from branch to branch ; and on 



