THE BLUE-JAY. 77 



omnivorous and, provident corvine jays; and most import- 

 ant of all. they nest in holes and lay white eggs. It is this 

 common confusion between two groups of birds very well 

 known in their respective habitats that makes it excusable 

 to include in this series a bird which is not common in Cal- 

 cutta by any means. In fact, I was personally acquainted 

 with only one wild specimen, who was generally to be 

 seen on one of the furlong posts of the race-course, just 

 opposite the jail. Hereabouts he spent most of his time, 

 for Rollers, again unlike the birds whose name they borrow, 

 are very sedentary birds, waiting till they see some small 

 live thing and then pouncing upon it, instead of actively 

 hunting about. As to the quality of the game they are 

 not very particular, for, as I have proved with a captive 

 bird, they will eat and digest toads, which are a good deal 

 too much for some birds' insides. The Roller throws up the 

 hard parts of- its food in quids or pellets, like many other 

 insectivorous j birds. Young Rollers are ugly little crea- 

 tures at first, being quite naked, but when the feathers 

 have grown enough to cover the body they are very pretty, 

 their plumage, with the wings and tail banded with Oxford 

 and Cambridge blue, being like that of their parents ; for, 

 unlike many brilliant birds, the Indian Roller has a com- 

 mon livery for all ages and both sexes. The large dark 

 eyes also do not change with age, and give the young birds 

 a singularly innocent appearance, which rather belies their 

 real disposition ; for they are greedy little creatures, and 

 when hungry will fight violently over their food ; although 

 I have seen a youngster which I had filled up kindly present 

 an extra piece to a brother fledgling. Young Rollers are 



