CORACIAS.
Bill hard, straight, narrower at base than long ; rictal bristles few and short.
Coracias garrulus garrulus L. ROLLER. Fr. Rollier ; Ger. Mandelkrahe ; Ital. Ghiandaia marina ; Swed Blakrakti. ? General colour light blue ; lesser wing coverts, under surface of quills, rump and shorter upper tail coverts dark blue ; back, scapulars and inner secondaries cinnamon. Bill dark horn brown. Legs and feet yellowish. Wing 192-205, ? 183-205.
Tarsus 23-24. Bill 26-30.
Breeds.—Continental Europe from about 61° in Norway and Russia to Mediterranean, Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Meso potamia ; N.W. Africa ; rare in Urals and Denmark, irregular in Switzerland. Rare visitor Britain, Holland, Belgium, Baltic Provinces, Sardinia. Migrates ; occurs Egypt on passage. Winters S. Arabia and tropical and S. Africa.