202 Mr. ViGORs's and Dr. Horsfi eld's Description of the 



Fam. ToDiD.îi. 

 Genus. Eurystomus. Vieil/. (Colaris. Cuv.) 



1. Orientalis. Eur. cœrideo-viridis, jugido lazuUno-strigato, 

 remigibus rectricumque apicibiis jiigris, macula alarum cccru- 

 lea. 



Coracias orientalis. Linn. i. 13*}. 



Rollier des Indes. P/. Enl. 619- 



In Mr. Caley's MSS. are the following notices of this bird. 

 " Its native name is Natay'kin ; the settlers call it Dollar Bird, 

 from the silver-like spot on the wing. — It is a noisy bird when on 

 the wing, but mostly so in the evening, after other birds have 

 gone to roost. It may then both be heard and seen on the tops of 

 trees, particularly on dead branches, where it is most easily shot 

 by so exposing itself. Its flight is much like that of the Swallotc, 

 but I have never observed it long upon the wing ; as it generally 

 betakes itself, as I before mentioned, to the top of some high 

 tree or decayed branch, from whence it darts more readily upon 

 its prey. At this time (the evening) the Beetles, which I have 

 found in their stomachs, are upon the wing. — It is a bird of pas- 

 sage. — The earliest period of the year at which I have noticed it 

 was on the 3rd of October 1809 ; and I have missed it early in 

 February. It is most plentiful about Christmas." 



This bird, which seems to spread itself very generally over 

 the Eastern world, was originally placed by Linnœus among the 

 Rollers, or his genus Coracias ; and although it has latterly been 

 formed into a distinct genus from that group, it has still been 

 arranged next to it by the greater number of systematic writers. 

 M. Vieillot observing the extreme width of the base of the bill, 

 grouped it among the Berry-eaters^', a family which he formed 



* " Fam. iG. V>P^CClVO-R\:'—Jnahjse d'une Nouv. Ont. Ekm. p. 37- 



out 



