6 4



The following is a description of the adult male—Above,

olive-brown gradually shading into olive-yellow on the under

parts ; the throat, breast, and flanks are covered with white spots

which become smaller as they approach the chin ; face, bright

crimson with minute white spots on the sides and chin ; upper

tail-coverts, rosy-pink with large whitish spots ; tail-feathers,

dull red ; bill, bright red ; iris, orange ; feet, yellow.


The female is like the male, but much duller in colour,

with scarcely any red on the face.


The young are said to be of an uniform buffy brown, the

eye yellowish olive, surrounded by a narrow line of olive ; bill

reddish browm.



THE INDIAN ROLLER.


Coracias indicus.


By Reginald Philupps.


In June, 1898, when in a bird-shop, my attention was

attracted by a Roller. I11 the dull light, and from its general

shape and carriage, notwithstanding its rather smaller and more

feminine bill, it seemed to be a specimen of our common species ;

but on a closer inspection I found a very different bird, none

other than the Indian Roller. Presumably it was an 1897 bird

in the middle of its “spring” moult, which perhaps had been

retarded or unduly prolonged by its cage life and recent travels.

The body was partly featherless; but the small feathers quickly

grew, and in this respedt the plumage became perfect. Not so,

unhappily, with the flights and tail feathers ; these had been

grown and ground to powder before I received it, and very few

have been reproduced up to date.


Owing, probably, to careless treatment, I have found this

individual specimen exceptionally timid and nervous. But the

considerate and tender care that has since been bestowed upon

it has not been without its influence for good ; and it has so far

recovered its composure that when in difficulties I can, with

patience, induce it to come on to the back of my open hand,

and remain there sufficiently long to enable me to carry it to its

house : it has in it the making of a nice bird.


My male European Roller has been very hard upon his

Indian cousin, and attacks it pretty savagely sometimes, so the

latter keeps a great deal in its house, in which it is always shut

up at night and at meal-times.



