THE FAIEY ROLLEE. 
107 
and probably for a series of years. This species seems to be 
shy ; it keeps among the branches of high trees^ and lives 
on insects^ which it captures plentifully in such situations. 
One of the most beautifully though simply plumaged 
birds of the East is the Irena puella, or Tairy Eoller, of 
India^ the male of which is of the deepest black, with the 
crown of the head, upper side of the neck, back, wing, and 
tail-coverts of the most resplendent smalt-blue colour. It 
has short tarsi and weak claw^s ; its bill is strong, and the 
nostrils are covered with vihrissm and velvety feathers. Ac- 
cording to Dr. Horsfield, who first described the genus"^^ it 
is rare in Java, concealing itself on solitary hills, far from 
the haunts of man, and feeding on the fruits and wild seeds 
which it finds in the mountain woods and forests. Sir Stam- 
ford Eaffles met with it in Sumatra. Mr. Jerdonf finds it to 
be common in the lofty forest jungles of Malabar, where it is 
met w^ith in small parties of four or five, frequenting the 
summits of the loftest trees, as if, like our purple emperor 
butterfly, the fairy blue-bird was chary of showing its 
charms. Its presence however is soon detected by the loud^ 
mellow^, agreeable warble which it frequently repeats. 
* Zoological Researches in Java, No. 1. 
t Madras Journal, vol. x. p. 262. 
