170 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



in a hole in a bank, or wall, using a bedding of roots and 

 grass, or feathers and hair,- on which it places the eggs. It 

 has obtained its name from a habit of rolling over in its flight. 

 The earliest record of this species in Sussex is that of Hill 

 (Hist. Anim. p. 369), who states that one was seen by him 

 in Charlton Forest in 1752. Markwick, in his Catalogue of 

 Sussex Birds, read before the Liunean Society (1795), merely 

 says, " A bird of this species was killed in this neighbour- 

 hood." Mr. Knox records an example shot by Mr. Tomsett, 

 near Alfriston, and another shot in July 1843, on Chinton 

 Farm, near Cuckmerehaven. In the 'Zoologist' (p. 2497) 

 there is a notice of a specimen shot on the 29th of May, 

 near Nutley, on the borders of Ashdown Forest, which 

 proved on dissection to be a male, and a cockchafer, with the 

 remains of other large Coleoptera, was found in its stomach. 

 I am informed by Mr. Dunlop, Vicar of Henfield, that this 

 specimen is now in the possession of Mrs. Day, of Uckfield 

 • House, and was shot by Mr. John Bennet, for whom Mr. 

 May, naturalist, of East Grinstead, informs me that he 

 mounted it. Mr, Monk has recorded a Roller which was 

 killed at Isfield, on June 12th, 1870, and purchased by Mr. 

 McQueen, of Chailey, who presented it to him. On dissec- 

 tion, the only thing found in its stomach was a small cock- 

 chafer (Zoologist, p. 2224). 



MEEOFID^. 

 BEE-EATER. 



Merops apiaster. 



I HAVE only heard of three instances of the occurrence of 

 this species in Sassex. The first was shot by Sergeant 



