BRITISH BIRDS. 



93 



THE ROLLER. 



(Coracias Garrula, Linn. Rollicr vnlgairC) Temm.) 



THIS rare bird is distinguished by a plumage of 

 exquisite beauty; it vies with the Parrot in an 

 assemblage of the finest shades of blue and green, 

 mixed with white, and heightened by the contrast 

 of graver colours, from which perhaps it has been 

 called the German Parrot, although in every other 

 respect it quite differs from that bird, and seems 

 rather to claim some affinity with the Crow or the 

 Shrike. It is about the size of the Jay, being 

 somewhat more than twelve inches in length. The 

 bill is black, beset with short bristles at the base ; 

 the eyes are surrounded with a ring of naked yel- 



