484 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



brown circles; the head, neck, breast, and belly, present various 

 shades of bluish verditer, changing to a palish green ; the plumage of 

 the upper part of the body is a brilliant azure blue on the shoulders, 

 and reddish brown on the back ; rump feathers purplish ; wing 

 primaries dark bluish black, lighter on the edge ; tail feathers pale 

 greenish blue. They abound in Europe, Africa, and Southern Asia. 

 Although the natural habitat of the bird is oak and beech forests, 

 M. Vieillot tells us that in Malta, where trees are scarce, the bird nests 



Fig. 200. — Garrulous Roller. 



on the ground. In Barbary it has been observed to build on the 

 banks of the rivers; and Pennant observes that where trees are 

 wanting it builds its nest in clayey banks. 



The Starlings {Stumidce) are characterised by a straight bill, de- 

 pressed towards the point. They are remarkable for their vivacity, 

 and grave, sombre plumage, lit up with brilliant metallic reflections of 

 green and blue. They are sociable birds, living in numerous flocks, 

 being, says Selby, " particularly abundant in the fenny parts of Leices- 

 tershire and Nottinghamshire, where they roost among the reeds ; 

 also at Whitefield, in Cumberland, where a spruce wood of several 

 acres near Overwater Lake, is literally filled with them at roosting- 



