704 Mr. W. L. Selater on Birds collected 



It is usually observed in ])airs perclied on the tops of 

 bare trees, and when approached flies round in large 

 circles high up out of shot, keeping up a continuous dis- 

 cordant cry. On the uing it often indulges in sudden 

 tamhlcs, rising again abruptly when witliin a few feet of the 

 ground. It often mobs hawks and crows that happen to pass 

 near it. I have always observed that the bird so mobbed 

 makes off as fast as it can, and never attempts to retaliate. 

 It feeds entirely on insects, and will congregate in numbers 

 in company with the Drongos around grass-fires to catch 

 grasshoppers, beetles^ and other insects driven out by the 

 flames. 



The soft parts of an adult are : — Irides hazel ; bill black ; 

 legs and toes dark greenish yellow.] 



402. CoKACIAS SPATULATUS. 



p. Coguuo, Aug., Sept. (2). 



So far as I am aware the Racquet-tailed liollcr has 

 uot hitherto been obtained in Portuguese East Africa, but 

 within South African limits only in Ilhodcsia. 



[{ have not seen this Roller elsewhere than in the Inham- 

 baue district of Portuguese East Africa, and even there, 

 although several individuals were seen, it could not be said 

 to be plentiful. It was observed singly, and I remarked that 

 it was not so noisy as C. caudatus. It generally sat on the 

 tops of small bushes and trees or on the lower branches of the 

 larger ones. I found it rather wary, and when disturbed it 

 merely moved off to some distant position, never circling 

 ruund high up as does C. caiulaius. 



The soft parts of an adult are : — Irides brown ; bill black; 

 legs and toes greenish or greenish yellow.] 



403. CoilACIAS MOSAM15ICUS. 



Tv. Klein Letaba, Sept. (1) ; P. Tete, Aug. (1). 



[I only noted the Purple Roller at Klein Letaba, wliere 

 it was fairly plentiful, and in the Tete district, where it 

 was scarce. It is always observed singly, and generally 

 frecpieuts well-timbered countiy, and is seen either perched 

 on the middle branches of the trees or ou the iiround 



