45 
a greenish tinge on the centre of the throat; the crown is not pure greenish like the back, but tinged 
with reddish, the bases of the feathers being washed with reddish. I believe the size of the bill to be 
an individual difference.” I cannot coincide with this view, as I have before me fully adult specimens 
which have the crown green, and all the specimens I have seen from South Africa have, without 
exception, the crown green, those from Abyssinia and North Africa having the crown reddish; 
besides, in the British Museum are immature birds of both forms, those of C. nmius having the crown 
decidedly red like the adults, and those of C. mosambicus having the crown decidedly green, though 
paler than in the adult bird. 
It is, however, very possible that, where the two species meet, they may interbreed and produce 
intermediate forms, as is the case with Coracias indicus and C. affinis, where the ranges of these two 
species intergrade. 
Eeferring to the habits of this Roller as observed by him in Damaraland, Mr. Andersson writes 
(1. c .):—“ It is usually met with in pairs, and is not particularly shy. It seldom extends its flight far, 
but occasionally rises to a considerable height, rocking violently to and fro, and descending in a similar 
manner, with amotion resembling that of a boy’s kite when falling to the ground on the guiding force 
being withdrawn. When on the wing it makes a great noise, rapidly uttering harsh and discordant 
sounds; its notes are at times not unlike the sound produced by a broad-bladed knife passing through 
a tough piece of cork, but are in a louder key. This species seeks much of its food on the ground ; 
but sometimes it watches from some elevated position, and, the moment its prey comes within sight, 
darts upon it with unerring certainty, its habit in this respect being very like that of the Butcher-bird 
Shrikes. It is a most useful bird, feeding largely on centipedes, scorpions, tarantulas, and other 
insects, as well as on small snakes and lizards.” 
In Natal, according to Mr. Ayres, this Roller “ is generally found either solitary or in pairs. The 
young birds may be readily reared, as they feed well on raw meat or insects; but they are trouble¬ 
some from the loud discordant notes which they almost always utter. They give their food a toss 
before swallowing it, and, in fact, toss it down their throats.” He also adds that it is said to become 
more plentiful in that district towards the summer months. 
The various observers agree in stating that the present species, like its congeners, nests in holes 
in trees and deposits pure white eggs. This Roller is, Mr. Andersson writes (1. c.), “ one of the earliest 
breeders in Damara Land, and makes its nest in the hollows of trees, usually such as have been 
previously occupied by some Woodpecker: the stems of these trees are mostly tall and straight; and 
in consequence of this, and of the smallness of the apertures, the nests are very inaccessible. I have 
frequently seen such breeding-places without being able to reach them; but I believe the eggs are 
white and two in number, and that both parents assist in their incubation.” This view as to the colour 
of the eggs is confirmed by Mr. Chapman, who further states, in his ‘ Travels in South Africa,’ that 
“ these birds before they are fledged, as well as the hen while breeding, are fed by the male bird; the 
hen never leaves the nest until the brood are fledged. The birds cannot fly well, and if seen in an 
open fleld, where an occasional resting-place is not to be found, are easily run down and eaten by the 
Bushmen.” According to Anchieta this Roller nests in the trunks of trees and its note resembles the 
words “ Hcicl^ Hda.” 
Until 1885 the present species and Coracias ncevius were considered to be speciflcally identical, 
and to Captain Shelley is due the credit of having first pointed out the distinctive characters of the 
two species (Ibis, 1885, p. 399); but he then recognized the southern form merely as a subspecies, 
calling it Coracias nmvia levaillantii. Early in the same year I had occasion to examine the series in 
the British Museum, and I then noticed differences, which I considered specific, between the 
