8o 



PICARIAN BIRDS. 



of the habits of this well-known bii-d, Naumann oljserves that it " is always restless 

 and uneasy, moving fi"oni tree to tree, whei*e it always settles on the summit, or 

 on a dead branch. Wlien undisturbed it is fond of sitting in the sunshine, but 

 during rainy weather is dull and moping. It never hops about among the branches, 

 but flies fi-om branch to bi'anch, now and then descending to the ground, where it 

 hops heavily, and with an awkward demeanour. Its flight is quick, very easy, 

 and much i*esembles that of a pigeon : in flying straight it flaps the wings quickly ; 

 turns and overbalances itself often, and glides or shoots thix)ugh the air for some 



COMMON ROLLER (I nat. size). 



distance before dropping on to a dead branch. The ordinary voice may be best 

 compared to that of the magpie. Rollers continually give a deep harsh racker- 

 racJcer-racker-racker, which is very quickly uttered when they are squabbling ; 

 and with this they mingle a harsh rrdh. When sitting peaceably, the note is a 

 high rack and rack-rack and also a plaintive high krdh, not unlike that which a 

 young jackdaw sometimes utters ; this last is their call-note. These notes very 

 often vary, and the bird is generally heard before he is seen. In fine weather 

 the male rises in the air near where the female is incubating, uttering a single 

 rack, rack-rack, etc., until he attains a considerable height, from which he suddenly 

 falls, always turning a somersault, and throwing himself here and there in the 



