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The Roller-like Birds 



so-called Common Roller (C. garrulus], the bird inhabiting southern Europe, 

 whence it migrates in winter to northern Africa, and is also found eastward 

 through central Asia, retiring to northern India in winter. It is in the main 

 pale blue throughout, darker on the head and paler on the abdomen, while the 

 back, scapulars, and innermost secondaries are cinnamon-brown, and the rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, and smaller w j ing-coverts a rich, deep ultramarine-blue. The 



FIG. 151. Common Roller, Coracias garrulus. 



total length is about twelve inches, the outer tail-feathers not being elongated 

 beyond their fellows, or at least rarely so. This Roller is described as having 

 restless and uneasy habits, and as frequenting thin woods, groves, and brush- 

 covered places, often perching on the summit of a dead tree or a telegraph pole 

 or wire. Its note, according to Dresser, may be described "as a deep harsh 

 racker-racker-racker-racker, which is very quickly uttered when the birds are 

 squabbling, and with it is mingled a harsh rrah. When sitting quiet the note is 

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

 a young Jackdaw sometimes utters. In fine weather the male rises in the air 



