contained three beautifully white eggs.” The species has likewise
occurred to Senor A.nchieta on the Cunene River, and to Mr. Mon-
teiro in Benguela.
The strongly forked tail renders this Bee-eater an unmistakeable
bird, no other South African species also having the tail-feathers
tipped with white: iris, carmine-red: bill, black: tarsi and feet brownish.
Total length, 8 inches; culmen, 1'3; wing, 3'9 ; tail, 4-2 ; tarsus, 0‘4.
The young bird differs in being all green, the yellow throat and
blue gorget of the adult being absent, but it has the tail forked as
in the full-grown bird.
Fig. Swainson, B. W. Afr. pi. 10.
Fam. CORACIADJE.
98. C oracias garrula. European Roller.
Coradas abyssinica, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 60.
This Roller has not as yet been noticed in any numbers within the
Cape Colony, and is doubtless only a winter visitant. We believe it
to be the species noticed under the heading of 0. abyssinica in the
first edition, for it has been pointed out that G. garrula is exactly
similar to that species without the elongated tail-feathers, (Cf. Sharpe,
Ibis, 1871, p. 201). We consider that 0. abyssinica is confined to
North-Eastern Africa and Western Africa and has not yet appeared
in South Africa at all.
The European Roller has been received from one or two places
along the northern border of the colony, also from the neighbourhood
of Spring-bok fountain in Namaqua Land. Mr. Rickard tells us that
he once saw a Roller, apparently of this species, near East London.
It has been killed in Natal by Mr. Ayres, Mr. Mohr and other
collectors, and Captain Shelley recently obtained a specimen from the
neighbourhood of Pinetown, but it was considered to be by no
means, common in that locality, Mr. Ayres has lately forwarded a
specimen from the Transvaal, which, he says, was killed amongst
some bushes about three miles from Potebefstroom in the month of
December. Mr. Andersson writes:—“ This species is common in
Ondonga, but is less so in Damara Land proper, than either C. navia
or G. caudata. As far as I recollect, it is only seen during the
rainy season.”
Upper surface sandy brown; head and neck blue; forehead and
chin whitish ; cheeks and throat pale blue with streaks of silvery-
blue ; remainder of under surface pale greenish blue; least wing-
coverts rich ultramarine, the rest greenish blue; primaries blackish,
externally marked with ultramarine, secondaries externally greenish
blue, the innermost sandy brown like the back; upper tail-coverts
greenish blue; middle tail-feathers dirty green, the other feathers
blue, paler towards the tip, the two outer ones tipped with dull blue;
bill black; feet yellowish brown; iris dirty brown. Total length,
12 inches; culmen, P 3 ; wing, 7’6 ; tail, 4-4 ; tarsus, 0‘7.
The present species has not an elongated outer tail-feather, and
therefore cannot be mistaken for G. abyssinica or 0. caudata,
which it somewhat resembles in coloration. It approaches G. ncevia
in size and form of tail, but is differently coloured, and has no white
nape patch.
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Eur. part 1.
99. Coracias mjvia. . White-naped Roller.
Goracias nuchalis, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 60.
Le Vaillant procured this Roller in Caffraria. One specimen was
shot near Middelburg on the eastern side of the colony, and sent to
us by the late Mr. J. O’Reilly, magistrate of that place. Dr. Reid
informs us that it is not unfrequent between Soutpans drift, Orange
River, and Gricqua Town.
Mr. Ayres says that in Natal it is “ not uncommon during summer,
and it also occurs on the River Limpopo; it is generally found either
solitary or in pairs Dr. Exton procured it at Kanye, and during his
journey to the Matabili country, Mr. T. E. Buckley found the species
fairly common. He obtained a specimen in the above locality in
October, 1813, and again in the Transvaal in July. Mr. Ayres has
also met with it in the last-named country. According to Mr.
Andersson it is not uncommon throughout Damara Land and is also
found in the Lake-regions. By Senor Anchieta it has been met with
at Huilla and on the Rio Cunene. Mr. Andersson gives the following
excellent account of the habits :—“ It is usually met with in pairs,
and is not particularly shy. It seldom extends its flight far, but
occasionally rises suddenly to a considerable height, rocking violently
to and fro, and descending in a similar manner, with a motion 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