PLATE XYI. 



GENUS EURYSTOMUS (Vieillot). 



nnHIS genus is dispersed over India, the Indian Islands, and Africa, and one species is found in 

 Australia. 



EUEYSTOMUS PACIFICUS (Q. R. Gray). 



AUSTRALIAN ROLLER. 



"^VTEW SOUTH WALES and Queensland constitute the habitat of the species under notice, the 

 southern colony being chosen for performing the duty of incubation, and Queensland being the 

 winter residence. 



It lives on insects, chiefly of the coleopterous tribe. 



During its flight, which is rapid and long-sustained, the white spot on the wings is very 

 conspicuous, and has procured for it the name of Dollar-bird. 



In September, and the three following months, three or four eggs are laid in a hole in a tree, 

 no nest being built. In colour they are white, tinged with grey, and are one inch and five-twelfths 

 long, by one inch and one-sixth broad. 



The head and neck are dark brown, passing into sea-green on the upper surface ; spurious 

 wing, outer webs of the basal part of the secondaries and middle part of the primaries, and the throat, 

 light blue ; base of primaries, greenish-white ; tip, dark brown ; tail, green at the base, dark brown at 

 the tip ; under surface, green ; irides, dark brown ; bill, legs, and feet, red. 



Habitats : New South Wales and Queensland. 



GENUS MEROPS (Linnczus). 



NLY one bird of this form inhabits Australia. 



