P I C A R I M. 



CORACIIBvE. 



Subfam. CORACIIN^E. 

 Bill variable in length and width. "Wings moderately long. Tarsus shorter than the 

 middle toe. 



Genus COEACIAS. 

 Bill long, broad, and high at the base, from which the culmen is gradually curved to the tip, 

 which is bent down. Nostrils basal, oval, and oblique ; gape armed with short strong bristles. 

 Wings long, the 3rd and 4th quills subequal and longest, the 1st longer than the 6th. Tail 

 moderately even. Legs and feet robust. Tarsus subequal to the outer toe, and covered, as 

 well as the toes, with strong transverse scales ; inner toe much shorter than the outer, and slightly 

 exceeding the hind one ; claws strong, moderately straight. 



COEACIAS INDICA. 



(THE INDIAN ROLLER.) 



Coracias indica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 159 (1766); Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 378 (1788); 



Sykes, Cat. Birds Deccan, J. A. S. B. 1834, iii. p. 541 ; Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. 



p. 51(1849); Kelaart, Prodromus, Cat. p. 118 (1852); Layard, Ann. & Mag. Nat. 



Hist. 1853, xii. p. 171; Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E. 1. Co. p. 571 (1856-8); 



Jerdon, B. of Ind. i. p. 214 (1862) ; Holdsworth, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 423 ; Hume, 



Nests and Eggs, p. 103 (1873) ; id. Str. Feath. 1873, p. 167 ; Butler, ibid. 1875, p. 456; 



Morgan, Ibis, 1875, p. 314 ; Bourdillon, Str. F. 1876, p. 382 ; Fairbank, ibid. 1877, p. 394. 

 Coracias bengalensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 159 (1766). 

 Garrulus ncevius, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxix. p. 431 (1819). 

 Rollier de Mindano, Buffbn, PI. Enl. pi. 285 ; Blue Jay from East Indies, Edwards, Glean. 



pi. 326 (1764); Blue Jay or Jay, Europeans in India and Ceylon. 

 Subzak, lit. "Greenish bird;" also Mlkant, lit. "Blue Throat," Hind.; Tas, Mahratta ; 



Paid pitta, lit. "Milk-bird," Tel.; Katta-Jcade, Tamul ; Toioe, Mahri (Jerdon). 

 Doong-kowluwa, lit. " Smoke-bird," Sinhalese ; Panang Jcarda, Tamils, North Ceylon ; also 



Kotta-Mlli, lit. " Palmyra-Parrot," apud Layard. 



Adult male and female. Length 12-5 to 13'2 inches ; -wing 6-9 to 7'1 ; tail 4-6 to 4 - 9 ; tarsus - 9 to 1*0 ; middle toe 

 1-0, its claw (straight) 0-38 ; bill to gape 1'8 to 2-1. The bill appears to vary in length without regard to size. 



Male. Iris grey or yellowish grey, with a rufescent brown inner circle, orbital skin and eyelid dull orange-yellow ; 

 bill black or blackish, paling to reddish at base beneath ; legs and feet olivaceous yellow or smoky yellow, claws 

 brownish. 



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