ROLLERS. 



8i 



air, uttering quickly the following Tdh-rdrdh-rrdh-rrd, etc. etc., which he always 

 changes to the rack as soon as ever he begins to turn his somersault, and then 

 returns to his seat on a dead branch. This appears to represent his song. The 

 bird chooses a sandy country as its breeding-home, and affects thin woods where 

 old oaks are scattered through, and which are adjacent to open fields and near 

 large forests, particularly of pines, making its nest in hollow oak, ash, or other 

 trees, and lining the interior with roots, straw, feathers, and hair. The male and 





ORIENTAL HOLLKR (J Iiat. size). 



female incubate in turn foi- the space of not (juite three weeks, and wlien breeding 



they sit so close tliat, though at other times very shy, they may be caught ou 



the nest." 



Broad-BiUed These rollei-s inhabit Africa, Madagascar, India, and China, 



Rouers. ranging north to Eastern Siberia and south to the Malay Ai-cliipelago 



and Australia. They have the bill as broad as it is long at the gape. The oriental 



roller (Eanjstomvs oriental is) has the tail black with a bluish base: the head 



blackish as well as the mantle; tlie back green, and the under surface blue, with 



VOL. IV. — 6 



