PASSERINE. SLE 
hollows of trees, and migrates in winter. It feeds on worms, 
insects and small frogs. 
There are some Rollers foreign to Europe, which have a 
square tail(1); the external quills in that of the European spe- 
cies, however, are somewhat elongated in the male, the first 
indication of their great length in several others.(2) 
Coraris, Cuv.(3) 
Differs from Coracias in a shorter and more arcuated beak, and 
particularly in the enlargement of its base, which is more broad 
than high.(4) 
Parapis@A, Lin. 
The Birds of Paradise, like the Crows, have a strong, straight, 
compressed beak, without any emarginations, and with covered nos- 
trils; but the influence of the climate they inhabit, an influence ex- 
tended to birds of several other genera, gives a velvet tissue to the 
feathers which cover these nostrils, and frequently a metallic lustre, 
at the same time that it singularly developes those which cover 
several parts of the body. They are natives of New Guinea and of 
the adjoining islands; and as it is difficult to obtain them except from 
‘the savage inhabitants of those countries, who prepare them by cut- 
tine off the wings and feet, it was thought for some time that the 
first species was really destitute of those members, and lived con- 
stantly in air, supporting itself there by its long feathers. Tra- 
vellers, however, having succeeded in obtaining perfect individuals 
of certain species, it is now known that their feet and wings indicate 
their claim to the place we have assigned to them. They are said 
to live on fruits, and to be particularly fond of aromatics. 
(1) Coracias bengalensis, Enl. 285, is evidently the same as the indica, Edw. 326 
and as the fig. of Albin. I, 17, quoted under caudata;—Coracias viridis, Nob.; 
Vaill. 1, 31; Vieill. Gal. 110;—C. Teminckii, Vaill., pl. G. 
(2) Coracias abyssinica, Enl. 626, and its variety C. senegala, Enl. 326, Edw.’ 
327. C. caudata is merely an individual of the same species, disfigured by the ad- . 
dition of the head of a bengalensis (Vaill. loc. cit., p. 105).—Cor. cyanogaster, Nob., 
- Vaill., loc. cit. pl. xxvi. | 
N.B. Cor. caffra, where Shaw quotes Edw. 320, can only be a Thrush (7'urdus 
nitens);—C. sinensis, Enl. 620, by its emarginated beak also approaches either the 
- Thrushes or the Shrikes. M. Shaw thinks that C. viridis, Lath. is an Alcedo.—C. 
strepera and C. varia, Lath. are Cassicans; C. militaris and C. scutata, Shaw, 
- Piauhaus;—C. mexicana, Seb. 1, pl. Ixiv, f. 5, is the Jay of Canada;—C. cayana, 
Enl. 616, a Tanager. 
(3) Colaris is the Greek name of an unknown bird.—Vieillot has changed it into 
that of Eurystomvs. 
(4) Coractas orientalis, Enl. 619;—Cor. madagascariensis, Enl. 501;—Cor. afra, 
Lath. Vaill. loc. cit., pl. xxxy. 
