THE HUMMING BIRDS. ot 
This brilliant species, which occasionally wanders as far westward as the 
3ritish Isles, is a summer visitant to the southern and eastern provinces 
of Europe: it is common in Sicily, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, &c., 
whence it retires into Africa on the approach of winter. in Spain, which 
it enters by way of Gibraltar, it makes its appearance generally during 
the first week in April, in flocks of forty or fifty, sometimes at a consid- 
erable elevation, at other times skimming low, and uttering a shrill whis- 
tle, heard at a considerable distance. They thus give chase to various 
insects, —bees, wasps, beetles, grasshoppers, and butterflies, — catching 
them on the wing with great address. Bee-eaters haunt rivers and streams, 
and may be seen coursing up and down in pursuit of their prey, and glit- 
tering in the sun with metallic brilliancy. In their habits these birds resem- 
ble the kingfisher: they breed in holes, which they burrow in steep banks 
overhanging the river, at the extremity of which, in a nest, according to 
Selby, the eggs are laid. These are of a pure white, and from five to seven 
in number. It is observed also, that, like the kingfisher, which recasts the 
bones and scales of fishes, these birds disgorge the wing-cases, and other 
indigestible parts of their insect food, rolled up in the form of small pellets. 
Faminy Coractb2. Rowers. 
The European Roller ( Coraetas garrula) is the type of this group. 
This species is wild, shy, restless, and fierce, frequenting, by preference, 
deep forests of oak and birch, where its harsh cry may be often heard. The 
Roller has been observed falling through the air like a tumbler pigeon. Tem- 
minck states that it makes its nests in the holes of trees, where it lays from 
four to seven eggs of a lustrous white. Vieillot states that, in Malta, where 
trees are scarce, the bird builds on the ground. In Barbary, it has been 
observed to form its nest on the banks of the Sheliff, Booberak, and other 
rivers ; and Pennant remarks that, where trees are wanting, it nests in clayey 
banks. These last modes of nidification bring it very close to the bee-eaters 
and kingfishers, whose eges quite resemble those of the Roller in color and 
shape, varying only in size. The male assists in incubation. The food is 
varied, according to Temminck, who enumerates moles, crickets, cockchaf- 
ers, grasshoppers, millepeds, and other insects, slugs and worms. 
Famiiy Trocumip®. Humaine Birps. 
In this division are placed the two groups — Phaéthornithine of Gray, 
and Trochiline, or Humming Birds proper. 
The Humming Birds are among the smallest and most brilliant of the 
feathered race. Winged gems, they glance, with dazzling effulgence, as 
they dart along, or hover over the fragrant flowers. No birds excel them 
NO. XII. 58 
