CXIIl. 



CORACIAS GAllRULA. (Linn. 



Roller. 



The Roller is one of those few occasional visitants of the 

 British Islands, the brilliancy of whose plumage at once tells 

 us that it has but little right to a place in our catalogue. 



The few instances of its occurrence with us have been 

 chiefly in the North of Britain. It is common in the forests 

 of Germany, and not unfrequent in other parts of the north of 

 Europe. It is said to breed in the holes of decayed trees, 

 laying from four to seven eggs; these bear a close resem- 

 blance to those of the Bee-eater and Kingfisher, in the round- 

 ness of their contour, and the glossy varnished appearance of 

 the shell. 



