( l0 9 ) 
The Roller 
*~ H ^ HIS Bird is of the Bignefs of a Magpye, but longer Winged, and Ihorter 
Legged and Tailed in Proportion,] 
The Bill is ftrong, pretty ftrait, a little hooked at the Point, Black of Colour, and 
befet on each Side at its Safes with black ftifF Hairs ; the Eye is encompafied for a 
fmall Space with a brown Skin bare of Feathers ; it hath alfo a fmall Knob or Ex- 
crefcence a little behind each Eye, void of Feathers ; the whole Head, Neck, Breaft, 
Belly, Thighs and Coverts beneath the Tail, are of a light blueifli Green, tho* fome- 
what darker on the Crown of the Head, and upper Part of the Neck, than on the 
under Side ; the Neck before hath light or whitifh Dafhes down the Shafts of the 
Feathers; the Back is of a reddifh Brown,, with a fmall Mixture of Green on the 
Edges of the Feathers; the Quills of the Wings are Black at their Tips, and of a 
very fine Blue toward their Roots, except thofe next the Back, on each Side, which 
are of the Colour of the Back ; the firfi: and fecond Row of Wing Coverts, next 
above the Quills, are of a greenifh blue Colour; the lefifer Coverts of the Wings are 
of a fine deep Blue ; the inner Covert Feathers of the Wings are of the Colour of 
thofe on the outfide, but fomething paler ; the Rump and Covert Feathers of the 
Tail are of the fame fine Blue, or Ultramarine-Colour, that is feen on the Wings; 
the middle Feathers of the Tail are of a dirty Green, the outer on each Side are of a 
light Blue, the outermofi: of all are each of them extended about half an Inch lon- 
ger than the Reft, and have their Tips Black. Wherever the Tail or the Quills of the 
Wings are Black on their upper Sides, they are of a fine deep Blue beneath. It hath 
fhort Legs, in Proportion, of a yellowifh Colour, its Toes Band after the ufual Man- 
ner, cloven to their Bottoms ; the Claws dark Brown, or Black. 
The Bird from which my Defign was taken, I fuppofe from its Beauty to be a 
•Cock ; it was fhot on the Rocks of Gibraltar , and fent to Mr. Catejby , in London , 
who obliged me with the Ufe of it. Mr* Albin hath not met with this Bird; Mr. 
Willughby has deferibed it, but, as I think, I have made fome Amendment in the 
Figure ; and it being a Bird of fingular Beauty, which hath never yet appear’d in Co- 
lours, I have ventured to Re-publifh it, Mr. Willughby fays, they are found in Ger- 
many , Sicily , and Malta , where they are fold in the Poulterer’s Shops ; and Dr. 
Shaw in his Hiflory of Barbary , &c. P. 251. fays, tc the Shaga-rag is of the Big- 
“ nefs and Shape of a Jay, tho’ with a fmaller Bill and fhorter Legs; the Back is 
<e brownifh, the Head, Neck and Belly of a light Green; and upon the Wings and 
<£ Tail there are leveral Spots or Rings of a deep Blue. It makes a fqualing 
tc Noife, and builds in the Banks of the Shelliff^ Booberak , and other Rivers.” 
I think this can be no other than the Bird above deferibed, fo that we are obliged to 
Dr. Shaw for letting us into the Knowledge of the Manner of its Building, and that 
it inhabits Africa as well as Europe . This Bird is found as far North as Sweden , 
Linneus having placed it among the Animals of that Kingdom, in his Hiflory of 
Swedijlo Animals, P. 25. §.73. the Latin Name given to it by natural Hiftorians, is 
Gar ruins Argentoratenfs , and Cor nix car idea . 
The 
2 
