So 



cassell's book of birds. 



These birds generally inhabit dry, flat country, and are met with extensively throughout Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa, but are scarce in Australia. Their usual residence is some solitary tree or high 

 rock from which they can command an extensive field of vision, and in the holes and clefts of which 

 they can build their nests. In such places they may generally be seen on the look-out for insects, 

 which tliey catch and devour much in the same way as the Bee-eaters ; at times they will dart down 

 upon some poor mouse that happens to approach them too nearly, and occasionally they will snap 

 up a lizard or other small game of that description, and will plunder a bird's nest in order to devour 



THE AUSTRALIAN 'SYX.-'EA.TE^ {Cosmderops ornatus). 



the young ; but although they thus generally live on animal food, at certain seasons they have no 

 objection to a vegetable diet, and will eat fruit. The flesh of some species is palatable, and they 

 are consequently much sought after in some countries, either as food or on account of the beauty 

 of their feathers. 



THE BLUE ROLLER. 

 The Blue Roller {Coracias garruhts), a species exhibiting the principal characteristics of the 

 above family, has a strong, straight beak of moderate size, broad at its base, slightly curved at the 

 culmen, and hooked at its tip ; the tarsus is shorter than the middle toe, the second wing-quill is 

 longer than the rest, and the tail straight at its extremity. A brilliant metallic green predominates 

 in the magnificently-coloured plumage ; the back is bright cinnamon-brown, the brow and chin are 

 whitish, the quills are indigo blue above and ultramarine blue beneath, the feathers on the small 



