132 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



quite unobtrusive object. Our American winter- visitors 

 have neatly expressed the contrast in the flying and 

 sitting Blue- Jay by calling it the " surprise-bird "; but 

 this name would even better fit the Paddy-bird or Pond- 

 Heron (Ardeola grayi) which is hard to see at all in repose 

 and pure white when it flies. This Roller is found almost 

 all over India and Ceylon in the plains, and extends 

 westwards along the Persian Gulf, and even occasionally 

 as far as Asia Minor. It likes open country, and always 

 chooses a perch which gives it a good outlook, very often 

 a telegraph wire, where it remains quite comfortably 

 even in the broiling sun of mid-day. It may sometimes 

 be seen sitting on the ground, or even hopping a few steps, 

 but as a rule it only comes down to pick up something 

 to eat. It is very active on the wing when it likes, in 

 spite of the apparent listlessness of its ordinary flight. 

 Its note is a single croak, varied occasionally by a cackling 

 laugh. 



It breeds at various times, according to locality, during 

 the first half of the year, and will often use a hole in a 

 building. Some birds line the nest with grass or rags, 

 etc., but others eschew bedding altogether. The young 

 birds look very pretty when covered with feathers, and 

 can be easily reared on bits of raw meat, cockroaches, etc., 

 but I cannot recommend them as interesting pets, as 

 they are not musical and very sluggish in their habits. 

 If a bird were trained to fly freely about the garden it 

 would be a nice pet, but the Blue-Jay must have room 

 and reason to show its wings if he is to be admired. Old 

 birds can be got to feed in captivity by putting them 



