THE ROLLERS. 
73 
India, but tlie bulk of the individuals bred in Asia probably 
turn west and migrate to Africa in a south-westerly direction, 
as do many other Asiatic bird.s. 
HaWts. I he Roller is strictly an arboreal species, and is not 
at all at home on the earth, where, doubtless, its flat-soled 
feet are not adapted for walking. Nevertheless, it seeks for 
most of Its food on the ground, but in a Picarian manner, 
that IS to say, by darting on its prey from a perch, like a 
Bee-Eater or a Kingfisher. Mr. Seebohm observes ; — “ A 
favourite mode of feeding adopted by the Roller is to sit on 
some clod of earth or other vantage-ground and wait patiently 
until It sees a beetle or a locust moving, then to suddenly 
pounce down and capture the prize.” It is also a frequenter 
of leed-beds, on which it is said to perch when on the look 
out for frogs. 
. The name of Roller is applied to this bird on account of 
Its curious habit of “rolling” or tumbling in the air, like a 
Tumbler-Pigeon. Sometimes a whole flock of Rollers will 
mdulge m this stnange evolution, and Canon Tristram relates 
how he saw large flocks of Rollers on migration near Mount 
Tabor in Palestine, on the 12th of April. One of these 
flocks congregated on some trees near a fountain, and made 
as much noise as a colony of Rooks. “After a volley of 
discordant screams, one or two birds were observed to start 
from their perch and commence a series of gambols and 
.somersaults in the air; then in a moment or two the whole 
flock followed their c.xample, this strange performance being 
repeated many times in succession.” 
The same author writes of this species “ Brilliant and 
conspicuous, both in plumage, note, and manners, the Rollers 
attract attention everywhere, and are found in every kind of 
coimtry alike woodland, plain, desert, ravines, ruins, — always 
perching where they can see and be seen,” They are by no 
means entitely forest-loving birds, and are found in well- 
timbered country as well as in the open plainSj where there 
are plenty of ttees, on which the Rollers love to perch on some 
conspicuous branch, where their bright colour renders them 
visible for a long distance off. 
1 he note of the Roller is very harsh, and is rendered by 
