ORDER PASSERES. 337 



mandible, moreover, on each side, is a round, flat, blue sub- 

 stance, not unlike the wattle of a cock, changing by degrees 

 from the base to a fine orange. Dr. Foster first indicated 

 this species, on whose habits we have little information. 



The Rollers, in certain characters and colours, have some 

 affinity with the jays, but are clearly distinguishable from 

 them by the attributes noticed in the text. This family is 

 considerably extended over the ancient continent. We 

 possess but one species in Europe, and it is very uncertain 

 if there are any in America. American birds have indeed 

 been indicated as Rollers ; but among such are many which 

 have been very clearly recognized as forming no part of this 

 genus. 



The rollers live on berries and insects, nestle usually in 

 trees, and lay four or five eggs. 



The Garrulous Rollers, in countries where birch-trees 

 abound, prefer them to every other tree for nestling in ; but 

 it is said, that where such trees are rare, as in Malta, that 

 they nestle on the ground. They lay about five eggs, of a 

 clear green, covered with innumerable little spots of a sombre 

 colour. But M. Meyer tells us, that the roller makes its 

 nest in the hollow of a tree, and that the eggs are of a 

 lustrous white. Such contradictions, added to others that 

 we have not mentioned, respecting the colours of the female, 

 sufficiently prove how little naturalists are acquainted with 

 this European bird. 



The rollers appear but seldom in the northern provinces 

 of France. They are sometimes seen in the environs of 

 Strasbourg, from which circumstance some have chosen to 

 call it the Strasbourg Jay, when in fact it is neither a jay 

 nor a native of Strasbourg. Others have called it the German 

 Parrot, with equal propriety, for it has as little analogy with 

 the parrot as with the cock-pheasant. These rollers come to 

 Malta twice a year, in spring and autumn. They seem to 



VOL, VII. }5 



