12 THE COMMON ROLLER. 



its Crow-like bill and harsh note appeared to 

 identify it. Its Turkish name is "Alia Carga" 

 or " Beautiful Crow," and by all Anglo-Indians 

 the Indian Roller is always spoken of as a "Jay." 

 As a matter of fact, however, the Roller is a 

 Picarian bird, and finds its true allies in the 

 Kingfishers and Bee-eaters. Like these, it has a 

 flattened sole to the foot, so that it was formerly 

 classed among the Anisodactyli, as these birds 

 with united toes were called, the toes being 

 joined together for some distance, and thus 

 producing a very flattened sole. Birds of this 

 group generally capture their prey from a fixed 

 perch, such as a dead branch or a stump, and in 

 the case of the Bee-eaters and Rollers, telegraph 

 wires have been appropriated by the birds as a 

 good point of vantage, from which to sally forth on 

 any passing insect. The Roller, however, procures 

 most of its food on the ground, sitting patiently 

 on a raised clod or slight elevation, and then 

 pouncing down on any insect that happens to 

 shew itself. Its short legs and weak feet render 

 it unable to progress with any rapidity on the 

 ground, but it is extremely quick of flight in the 

 air. Its food consists of all kinds of insects, 



