ROLLER. 



71 



Gazza marine, Zinnan. Uov. 6S. 1. 10. f. 59. 



Rollier, Buf. iii. 135. t. 70. PI. enl. 486. 



Roller, Gen. Syn. i. 406. Id. Sup. p. 85. Br. Zool. App. pi. 2. Id. Ed. 1812. i. p. 

 300. pi. 3S. Edw. pi. 109. Will. Engl. 131. pi. 20. Arct. Zool. ii. 235. G, 

 Beicick. Birds, i. pi. p. 85. Donov. Br. Birds, ii. pi. 33. Lewin. Birds,\\. pi. 42. 

 Walcot, i. pi. 41. Orn. Diet. 



SIZE of a Jay ; length thirteen inches, breadth two feet three 

 inches. Bill black, one inch and a half long, strait, hooked at the 

 point, beset with bristles at the base, but not covering the nostrils ; 

 space about the eyes somewhat bare ; irides of two circles, brown 

 and grey ; the head, neck, breast, and belly are light bluish green ; 

 back and scapulars reddish brown ; coverts, on the ridge of the wing, 

 rich blue, beneath them pale green; upper part and tips of the 

 quills dusky, the lower parts fine deep blue ; rump the same ; tail 

 forked, light blue ; the outer feather tipped with black above, and 

 beneath with deep blue ; the same with such parts of the quill feathers 

 as are black above ; the other tail feathers are dull green ; legs short, 

 and of a dirty yellow. The female has the head, neck, breast, and 

 belly ash-grey, with little gloss, nor in that sex any where so 

 brilliant as the male, which does not come to the complete plumage 

 till the second year. 



This bird is sufficiently common in many parts of Europe, in 

 most of which it is migratory. To the northward it is found in 

 Sweden and Denmark ; also met with in Russia, but only from the 

 southern parts to the neighbourhood of the Irtish,* and none farther 

 to the east ; has a screaming voice, like a Magpie, or Jackdaw ; said 

 to build on birch trees, in preference to any others, laying as far as 

 five eggs, of a clear green, sprinkled with innumerable dark specks; 

 will also build in the holes of old oaks ;f the chief food is insects. 

 In Germany, Malta, and Sicily, these birds are so common, as to be 

 sold in the markets and poulterers shops, for they are accounted good 

 food, the flesh tasting like that of the Turtle ; has been called the 



* Arct. Zool. t Dec. russ. i. 108. 



