32 



MR. R. TRIMEN ON A NEW ROLLER. 



[Jan. 20, 



the tail differs markedly in form from those of the two species named, 

 being forked and having its two middle feathers the shortest, while 

 that of C. caudatiis has the feathers generally of about equal length, 

 and in that of C. abyssinicus the two middle feathers are the longest. 

 This furcate shape of the tail makes the produced outermost feathers 

 of C. spatulatus look shorter than those of C. caudatus ; but in 

 fact they are just about the same length. (The corresponding 

 feathers in C. abyssinicus are 2\ inches longer.) The bill and feet are 



Terminal portion of tail of Coracias spatulatus, nat. size. 



comparatively slender, the former being rather shorter than in C. 

 caudatus. The upper-surface colouring much resembles that of C. 

 caudatus; but the head and neck are not nearly so green, being almost 

 uniform with the upper back ; the wing-coverts are ultramarine-blue 

 throughout except for a narrow cinnamon-brown bar, instead of 



