266 Transactions.— Zoology. 
secluded little bay about eight miles to the north of the Manukau Heads, 
and on the west side of the Waitakerei Range. When first observed by 
Mr. Cowan it was feeding on the outskirts of the forest, and on being 
disturbed flew noisily away. Later in the day it returned to the same 
locality, and was then secured by Mr. Cowan. Mr. J. McElwaine, who 
happened to be on the west coast at the time, kindly offered to deliver the 
bird to me, and I thus received it in a fresh condition. It proved to be an 
adult male, in full plumage. From the state of the long feathers of the 
wings and tail, which are quite entire and unworn, even at the extremities, 
it is obvious that the bird has never been kept in confinement, and cannot 
therefore have been brought over in some vessel. The bird possesses con- 
siderable powers of flight, and there is no great improbability in supposing 
that it has crossed the 1300 miles of ocean separating the two countries, & 
passage that is made every year by our little cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus ). 
Mr. Gould, in his “ Handbook to the Birds of Australia,” observes that 
the Roller is a local species, and is chiefly confined to New South Wales. 
He makes the following remarks respecting its habits: ‘‘ It appears to be 
most active about sunrise and sunset; in sultry weather it generally perches 
upon some dead branch in a state of quietude. It is a very bold bird at all 
times, but particularly so during the breeding season, when it attacks with 
the utmost fury any intruder that may venture to approach the hole in the 
tree in which its eggs are deposited.”’ 
** When intent upon the capture of insects, it usually perches upon the 
dead upright branch of a tree overhanging the water, where it sits very 
erect, until a passing insect attracts its notice, when it suddenly darts off, 
secures its victim, and returns to the same branch. At other times it may 
constantly be seen on the wing, mostly in pairs, flying just above the tops 
of the trees, diving and rising again with many rapid turns. During flight 
the silvery spot in the centre of each wing shows very distinctly, and hence 
the name of ‘ Dollar Bird’ bestowed upon it by the colonists.” 
The species appears to be purely an insect feeder. Mr. Gould remarks 
that the stomachs of all the specimens dissected by him contained Coleoptera 
only. This agrees exactly with the specimen now under notice, its crop 
being distended in a wonderful manner with these insects. 
For further particulars respecting this interesting bird, reference May 
be made to Gould’s work quoted above. The plumage differs in no 
from that of Australian specimens contained in our museum. 
