6 
frequently seen sitting on trees or bare stems and thence descending to the ground for insects, or 
catching them on the wing.” Von Heuglin writes {1. c.) that it “ inhabits the plains, as also wooded 
districts and localities far from wells and water. It is usually found in families and pairs, both on dry 
tree-tops and amongst the bushes. Not unfrequently it descends to the ground, or it captures insects, 
chiefly grasshoppers, on the wing. Usually it is by no means shy, is very lively, noisy, and quarrel¬ 
some, and is fond of attacking other birds.” 
According to Brehm, Vierthaler, and Antinori, this Eoller deposits its eggs, which resemble 
those of Coracias garrulus, in hollow trees, and Antinori says that it has young in August. It is, 
however, said by Hemprich and Ehrenberg and von Heuglin to construct its nest, like a Crow or 
Magpie, on the branches of trees ; but this is so contrary to the usual nesting-habits of the Rollers that 
they were certainly mistaken, and the nests in question cannot have been those of the Abyssinian 
Roller; besides which the eggs of all the Rollers are white, and not as described by them as follows: 
—“ Ova virent, fragmenta vidi. Nidus in Ficu sycomoro ut Corvorum nostrorum laxius sociales e 
mmulis aridisfact% minores-,” and von Heuglin states that he saw nests which clearly belonged to 
this Roller which resembled slightly constructed nests of the Magpie, and were placed on the tops of 
somewhat bare trees in the Steppes. Von Heuglin further says that “ they pair in the rainy season, 
and the male then rises sometimes high up in the air and glides either in a straight line or else 
in serpentine flight, the tail being extended and closed alternately, and utters a quick and peculiar 
call-note.” 
As above stated, the food of this Roller consists of insects, chiefly grasshoppers, which it either 
picks up from off the ground or catches on the wing. The specimen flgured is the male above 
described and is in my own collection. 
In the preparation of the above article I have, besides the large series in the British Museum, 
examined the following specimens :— 
F Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, ^ ad. Abyssinia {Eyton coll.), h, c? ad.; c, $ ad. Bogos,Abyssinia(Germrc?). d, $ ad. Kordofan, 16thMarch 
{Petherich). e, d ad. Shoa, 1865 {Bellenghi). f,g, h, i,j, k, S ad. Senegambia [Aslimead). 
E Mus. II. B. Tristram. 
a. Senegambia {Boucard). b, c. Senegambia {Aslimead). 
