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but to the house beneath that of his wife,—for it would be about

as wise to feed two bull-terriers out of the same dish as a couple

of Rollers. They are very conservative birds, and like every¬

thing to be just as they have been accustomed to find it; any

change or any new arrangement they regard with the gravest

suspicion.


Like so many other species, the Roller occasionally throws

up pellets of undigested portions of its food.


For a considerable time the terror inspired in the aviary at

the sight of these birds on the wing was very great, especially

among the Parrakeets. But notwithstanding their predatory

appearance when flying, I have found them most inoffensive

creatures if kindly treated, excepting towards their own relatives.

On the other hand, my Rollers would allow themselves to be

greatly worried and tormented by the Struthideas (Struthidea

cineria) and the Satin Bower-bird.


In April and May of 1898, they made several attempts at

nesting, and became very excitable. Their most serious designs

were made on a log-nest in which a Redrump was sitting.

Several attempts were made by the two birds to obtain a footing

here, the female always leading the assault and perching in the

aperture. On their approach the male Redrump would dash into

the log like a flash, in order to aid in the defence. Later, they

again made for this log; and the female, sitting in the aperture

and swaying her tail up and down, would roar with laughter on

finding that it was tenantless, while the male, close behind her,

would chuckle with suppressed glee. But nothing came of it,

probably because of the Satin Bower-bird, though possibly

because they may have been too young : for the yearlings of

some large species will not do more than play at nesting—at

least that is my experience.


As has been pointed out, the Roller is very like the

Laughing Kingfisher in many of its habits, movements, and

ways ; and it has the habit (as has also Dacelo gigas if I

remember rightly) of slowly swaying its tail up and down after

alighting on a perch, when sitting on one’s hand, and at other

times when in an uncertain mood or at all aroused. It is a bird

of the sun ; and in dull or foggy weather, of which we have

plenty here in London, it seems much disposed to mope. When

at rest it squats on its perch, never, I think, standing on one leg.

The two, although friendly, never cuddle together side by side.


Mr. Meade-Waldo, who is well-acquainted with the species



