246 Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall on 
the larger end. The food consists chiefly of crepuscular 
beetles. 
111. Coracias garrulus. (European Roller.) 
Mashonaland is well supplied with Rollers, or f<r Blue 
Jays” as they are locally called, all the South-African species 
being found within our limits. The present is our only 
migrant, arriving from the north about September and 
leaving early in April. It has been fairly plentiful round 
Salisbury this season, and probably breeds here, as young birds 
have been observed in January and February. It is fond of 
sitting on the summit of isolated trees in fairly open country, 
especially along streams, and is noticeably tamer and less 
active than C. caudatus , permitting approach within gunshot 
with comparative ease. Stomachs contained only beetles. 
112. Coracias caudatus. (Lilac-breasted Roller.) 
This lovely bird is perhaps the commonest and most 
generally distributed species of the genus in this part of South 
Africa; it is, moreover, much the most wary, being very 
difficult of approach, sitting on the topmost twigs of the 
highest trees in the vicinity of rivers and making off with 
discordant screams at the first sign of danger. During the 
breeding-season it (presumably the male bird) will mount to 
a considerable height with its curious rolling flight, rising in 
stages and screaming all the while, then suddenly turning 
over and diving straight down. 
I took a nest of this species at the Umfuli on the 24th 
October, 1895. It was in a hole in a tree, about 20 feet from 
the ground, and contained three white eggs, moderately 
incubated ; two of these were nearly spherical, the third 
being very pointed at one end—much like a Plover’s egg in 
shape. The stomachs of this bird usually contain small crabs, 
locusts, mantides, and beetles (including Anthia pachyoma ). 
The occurrence of the last-named insect is of much interest, 
as it is capable of ejecting a considerable quantity of a 
powerful acid. 
113. Coracias spatulatus. (Racquet-tailed Roller.) 
This species appears to be very local, occurring only 
