THE ROLLERS. 133 



in a moderate-sized cage and giving them live insects at 

 first ; when the birds are taking meat regularly it is as 

 well to mix it up with some satoo or boiled rice to render 

 it less heating. The Roller does well as an aviary bird 

 and is quiet with others, unless they are small enough 

 to swallow, when he is by no means to be trusted and 

 his swallowing powers are much greater than would 

 appear at first sight. Rollers are very seldom to be 

 had in England, so that a good healthy specimen is 

 always worth taking home. This is another of the 

 birds which ought to be spread by acclimatization, as 

 it is a charming landscape ornament and very useful 

 in destroying large insects. 



THE BURMESE ROLLER (Coracias affinis). This species 

 is included under the same name of "Blue- Jay" as the 

 last, but it is distinct from the Indian bird, though 

 the difference is not very great, consisting in slightly 

 larger size and decidedly darker colour. The body-colour 

 of the Burmese bird is darker brown than that of its 

 Indian relation, thus showing up the sea-green cap better ; 

 but there is no purple band at the tip of the tail, which is 

 all light blue except at the root ; the most striking differ- 

 ence, however, is in the lining of the wings, which is pale 

 blue in the Indian Roller, and purple in the present bird. 



The young in this species are noticeably different from 

 their parents, being much lighter in colour ; the absence 

 of the purple tip to the tail, however, is always 

 characteristic. 



This Roller, which has the same habits as the last, is 

 the common one of Burma, and extends east to Siam 



