EOLLER. 



CORACIAS GARRULA, Linn. 



Coracias garrula, Linn. S. N. i. p. 159 (1776) ; Naum. ii. 

 p. 158; Macg. iii. p. 540; Hewitson, i. p. 253; Yarr. 

 ed. 4), ii. p. 428 ; Dresser, v. p. 141. 



Rollier, Frencli ; Mandelkrdhe, Blaurache, German ; Car- 

 lanco, Carraca, Spanish. 



This brightly plumaged bird, although a rare visitor 

 to our country, is exceedingly common in summer in 

 Spain and many other parts of Southern and South- 

 eastern Europe, becoming rarer towards the north of the 

 continent, but breeding sparsely in Sweden. 



The food of the Roller consists almost entirely of 

 large beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects, which it 

 takes on wing and from the ground ; the flight is 

 buoyant and well sustained, and the bird has a curious 

 habit of turning somersaults in the air somewhat in 

 the fashion of a " tumbler" Pigeon, from which it has 

 derived its common English and French names. 



The nests of this species are generally situated in 

 hollow trees, in holes or clefts of sandy cliffs and river- 

 banks, or not infrequently in the walls of abandoned or 

 even inhabited buildings. The eggs are glossy white. 



