BIRDS OF THE OPEN FOREST 
77 
tinUously above the tree-tops, often remaining on the wing for an 
hour or longer. It is named “Dollar-bird” from the round whitish 
spot on each wing seen when in flight, and “Roller” from its habit of 
somersaulting when on the wing. The note is peculiarly harsh and 
discordant; uttered chiefly when on the wing, particularly towards 
sunset. Food: large flying insects. 
nest. In a hollow spout or in a hole in a dead tree, always at a 
great height from the ground. 
eggs. Three to five, pure white and rounded. Breeding-season: Oc¬ 
tober to December. 
14. Rainbow-bird Merops ornatus Latham 
Mer'-ops— Gk, merops, bee-eater: or-na'-tus— L., ornatus, adorned. 
distribution. Australia generally; also occurs from the Celebes 
to New Guinea. 
notes. Also called Bee-eater, Spinetail, Sandpiper, Pintail, and 
Kingfisher. Usually in flocks; arrives in September or October, departs 
in February or March. A handsome bird with a graceful, occasionally 
erratic flight, and a shrill whirring call-note. It prefers the more open 
areas to the thick forest country; procures its food on the wing, spends 
a good deal of its time perched on dead limbs, fences, and stumps, 
from which positions it will dart out in pursuit of some insect. 
nest. A tunnel in the ground, from 1 to 3 feet long, with a cavity 
at the end. Usually the tunnel is slanting and made in the side of a de¬ 
pression in sandy soil. The nesting cavity is lined with the castings of 
beetles and other insects. 
eggs. Five to seven, pure white and glossy. Breeding-season: October 
to January and February. 
15. White-breasted Wood-swallow Artamus leucorhynchus Linn£ 
Ar'-tam-us— Gk, ar tamos, butcher: leuc-o-rhynch'-us— Gk, leucos, white; 
Gk, rhynchos ( rhugchos ), beak. 
distribution. Australia (with the exception of the south-western 
portion). 
notes. Usually in flocks; arrives in New South Wales in September, 
departs in March; it does not occur in the southern portions of this 
State. Is always found in the vicinity of water. A beautiful bird in 
coloration and graceful in flight; also very aflectionate. A most useful 
species, destroys immense numbers of injurious insects and their larvae 
nest. A cup-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses; built in 
the fork of a dead tree, or in a hollow spout, often in an old mud nest 
of the Magpie-lark 
eggs. Three or four, white or creamy-white, spotted and blotched 
with pale brown, yellowish-brown, and very faint bluish-grey mark¬ 
ings, chiefly at the larger end. Breeding-season: August or September 
to January or February. 
G 
