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and feel that we need make no apology for so doing, as we know no observer who has succeeded 

 in so accurately describing the habits of birds. He writes as follows : — 



" The Boiler is always restless and uneasy, moving from tree to tree, where he always settles 

 on the summit or on a dead branch. When undisturbed he is fond of sitting in the sunshine, but 

 during rainy weather is dull and moping. It never hops about among the branches, but flies 

 from branch to branch, now and then descending to the ground, where it hops heavily and with 

 an awkward demeanour. Its flight is quick, very easy, and much resembles that of a Pigeon ; in 

 flying straight it flaps the wings quickly, turns and overbalances itself often, and glides or shoots 

 through the air for some distance before dropping on to a dead branch. The Roller's voice may 

 be best compared to that of the Magpie. They continually utter a deep harsh Eacker-racker- 

 racker-racker, which is very quickly uttered when they are squabbling ; and with this they mingle 

 a harsh rrah. When sitting peaceably, the note is a high rack and rack-kack, and also a plaintive 

 high krah, not unlike that which a young Jackdaw sometimes utters ; this last is their call-note. 

 These notes they often vary ; and the bird is generally heard before he is seen. In fine weather 

 the male rises in the air near where the female is incubating, uttering a single rack, rack-kack. 

 &c. until he attains a considerable height, from which he suddenly falls, always turning a somer- 

 sault, and throwing himself here and there in the air, uttering quickly the following rah-rdrah- 

 rrdh-rrd, &c. &c, which he always changes to the rack as soon as ever he begins to turn his 

 somersault, and then returns to his seat on a dead branch. This appears to represent his song." 



In certain places, however, the Roller is not so shy as in others; witness the following 

 remarks by Capt Rowland M. Sperling (Ibis, 1864, p. 283): — 



" In most accounts of the Roller's habits it is stated to be a shy bird, frequenting woods and 

 forests ; my experiences of it are exactly the reverse. I think observations are often made on 

 the habits of birds in the vicinity of towns or thickly populated districts, where, from being so 

 much exposed to raids from the human species, they would naturally be more shy than in more 

 retired and natural haunts. On the Plain of Sharon, where the distance between trees is 

 measured by miles, I have seen Rollers in the greatest abundance, their beautiful green bodies 

 bending the slender reeds of a swamp, apparently waiting for frogs to make their appearance 

 from the cool depths below. I could certainly have shot twenty a day without exciting myself 

 about them." 



The Roller generally chooses the hole of a tree for its nesting-place, more often that of an 

 oak ; but it is not very particular in its choice. The hole is generally at some distance above the 

 ground, and seldom, if ever, within reach of a person standing on the ground. The hole when 

 chosen is lined with roots, grass, straws, &c. so as to form a somewhat warm nest, and in it are 

 deposited four or five glossy white eggs. In Pomerania and the Baltic Provinces, where 

 Dresser has several times taken its nest, it has eggs late in May or early in June. 



According to Naumann it chooses a sandy country as its breeding-home, and affects thin 

 woods where old oaks are scattered through, and which are adjacent to open fields, and, near 

 large forests, particularly of pines, makes its nest in hollow oak, ash, or other trees, lining the 

 interior with roots, straw, feathers, and hair ; and the male and female incubate in turn for the 

 space of not quite three weeks. When breeding they sit so close that, though at other times 

 very shy, they may be caught on the nest. 



