ROLLER. 87 



rest of the back, rump, and upper tail coverts, breast, and vent, 

 white, inclining to blue on the breast ; wing coverts black and white 

 mixed ; some of the secondaries black, some white ; greater quills 

 black ; tail five inches long, even at the end, and black ; all but the 

 two middle feathers tipped with white; legs lead-colour ; claws stout, 

 sharp, and black. 



Supposed to inhabit New Guinea ; seems of a doubtful Genus, 

 between the Oriole, Toucan, and Roller, yet strictly belonging to 

 neither. We have, however, placed it in that of the last named, till 

 its character and manners may be better known. 



25— NOISY ROLLER. 



Coracias strepera, Ind. Orn. i. 173. 



Gracula strepera, Shaw's Zool. vii. 462. 



Cassican, Tern. Man. Ed. ii. Anal. p. li. 



Reveilleur del' Isle de Norfolk, Daud.il 267. 



Corvus graculinus, White-vented Crow, White's Bot. Bay, t. p. 25. 



Noisy Roller, Gen. Syn Sup. ii. 121. 



LENGTH nineteen inches; larger than a Jackdaw. Bill two 

 inches and three quarters long, curved at the point, with a slight 

 notch at the very tip, colour black ; nostrils elongated ; irides orange; 

 general colour of the plumage black, the feathers about the head 

 short and stiff; the first quill feather is half the length of the fifth, 

 which is the longest of all ; the first six are white at the base, 

 producing, when closed, a white patch on the wing ; vent, and base 

 of all the tail feathers white ; tail eight inches long, even at the end, 

 the feathers pointed at the tips, and marked on the inner webs with 

 white, but the two middle ones are wholly black ; the wings, when 

 closed, reach more than half way on the tail ; legs strong, feathered 

 rather below the heel ; hind toe very large and strong. 



