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on the outer web ; secondaries more broadly terminated with black, the inner ones blending with the 
rufescent cinnamon of the scapulars; wing-coverts like the back, except the primary-coverts and the 
edge of the wing which are ultramarine ; upper tail-coverts black, edged with ultramarine and tinged 
with rufous cinnamon; central tail-feathers black, the rest pale turquoise-blue, broadly tipped with 
black, washed with deep blue; under wing- and tail-coverts like the back, the latter tipped with 
black: bill clear yellow; legs greyish brown; iris dark brown. Total length 10 inches, gape 1*3, 
wing 6'3, tail 4’2, tarsus 0‘7. 
Adult female. —Resembles the male. 
Young (Fantee).—In general coloration resembling the adult, but much duller; underparts dull 
huffy cinnamon washed with dull greyish green ; the throat slightly tinged with dull blue : bill 
horn-brown, yellowish at the base; legs greyish brown; iris brown. 
The present species, easily recognizable by its rich blue throat, is only met with in West Africa 
from Liberia to the Congo, its range being therefore somewhat limited. Hartlaub certainly remarks 
that it has been met with in Senegal, basing his statement on specimens in the Leyden 
Museum said to have been obtained there; but this is doubtless an error, as in Professor Schlegel’s 
‘ Mus. Pays-Bas ’ no mention is made of any specimens being in that Museum from the locality 
indicated. Verreaux records it from Galam and Grand Bassam, Governor Ussher met with it in the 
Fantee country and sent home specimens from Denkera, Reichenow and Liihder record it from 
Aburi, and the former from the mountains of Aguapim, Pel from the Rio Boutry, Walker, 
Portman, and Gujon from the Gaboon, Duchaillu from the Ogobai river, and Reichenow from 
Kassongo in the Congo district. 
For some time the present species of Roller was supposed to inhabit New Guinea, and as late 
as 1875 Dr. O. Beccari, in a letter to Count Salvador! (Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vii. p. 704), states 
that it is common enough in New Guinea ; but this, I need scarcely say, is an error, as Dr. Beccari 
doubtless mistook Eurystomus 'pacificus for the present species. 
As regards the habits of this Roller, Governor Ussher says (Ibis, 1874, p. 49) that “in the 
breaks and clearings of the Fantee forests, in cornfields, and in sweet-potato patches the Blue- 
throated Roller is generally a prominent object. Perched in solitude upon a naked twig, in the 
centre of a clear space, if possible, he will sit for hours, only quitting his post for an instant to 
capture some passing prey. His movements at times resemble those of a Hawk, as he will 
occasionally remain suspended in the air for a short period, hovering about from one bush to another, 
hut invariably returning to his original post after a time. He is by no means so handsome a bird as 
E. afer.> and is much more difiicult of approach. He is generally alone, whereas E. afer appear to 
be usually in pairs.” M. Verreaux also {fide Sharpe) says that “ at Grand Bassam it is only a 
passing visitant. Its habits are similar to those of E. afer, and it is fond of tumbling in the air. It 
is rarer than any of the other Rollers, especially in the locality above mentioned, which is not its 
true home.” 
I find no record of its nesting-habits, but it doubtless nests, like Eurystomus afer, in hollow trees 
and deposits white eggs. 
