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When I approach, this bird invariably faces me, and I

rarely see its back ; moreover it is in the shade of its house ; so

the following particulars must be received only as a rough

indication of the plumage.


This Indian Roller has the appearance of being slimmer

and slightly smaller than my female European, and distinctly

less bulky than the male. The bill and claws seem to be black,

but probably are very dark brown ; all round the base of the bill,

sandy, the ej^e-ring and the bare triangular spot behind the eye

being much of the same colour. A large cap of light blue-green

on the crown, and a line of the same over the eye. Sides of face,

fore neck, chest and breast lilac- or purple-brown ; but round the

neck, broadening out on the chest and tinging the cheeks, there

is a strong wash of purple-lilac ; and the bird is further orna¬

mented in the front by light-coloured shaft-streaks, radiating

from the throat sideways and downwards, the whole having a

a very beautiful effect. Thighs, abdomen, under and upper tail

coverts, and about two inches—above and below—of all the tail

feathers but the two central, light blue. Basal ends of tail

feathers (excepting the two central) and a narrow band at the

tips, beautiful deep blue. I fancy the colours of the primaries,

or of a good many of the flights, are the same, and arranged

more or less on the same plan. Mantle and back generally, and

the two central feathers of the tail, light olive brown. The front

parts of the closed wing seem to be light blue or blue green, and

on the shoulder there is some brilliant purplish blue. Regs and

toes (not claws) whity-browu. The eye seems to be dark brown,

but perhaps it is not quite so dark as it appears.


The notes of the bird, so far as I am acquainted with

them, bear a family likeness to those of C. garndus, but are

shorter, sometimes almost forming a bark, and less musical.

Ill-natured people would, I fear, speak of them as harsh.


It swings its tail up and down like the European bird,

only more so, probably through nervousness.


I have never seen this bird drink, nor any signs of the

water, always in its house, ever having been touched. During a

mild shower in the summer, it occasionally managed to get into

the garden and have a shower-bath, on the highest possible

perch if allowed to remain there by the other birds ; but its

craving for a sun-bath was invariably acute.


Neither have I seen it touch sop, nor yet fruit—dried or

otherwise—but it seems to take a little of the former. When



