132 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



it a quite unobtrusive object. Our American winter- 

 visitors have neatly expressed the contrast in the fly- 

 ing 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 ex- 

 tends 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 out- 

 look, 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 



