CORACIAS AFFINIS, ecru.

Burmese Roller.

Coracias affinis, McClell. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., 1839, p. 164.—Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i p. 62, pl. xxi.C j
; : s, vol. i. p. 62, pl. xxi.Coracias,

sp. 8.—Blyth, J iat. S i
ea, Ee ee ou Soc. Beng., vol. xiv. p. 190, and vol. xix. p. 228.—Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus.
siat. Soc. a, p. 51.—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind. Comp., vol. il. p. 574.

Br and: : é :
E - ir in India, vol. i. p. 217.—Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein., Theil ii. p. 118.—Gould in Proe. of
ool. 50c., 1859, pp. 150, 151.—Schomb. Ibis, 1864, p. 246 |

——— katnas, F. (B.) Hamilton, MS., vol. ii. p. 123.
Katnas, Gualpara, F. (B.) Hamilton.
Nghet-kha, Avracan, Capt. Abbott.

 

Boru Mr. Blyth and Mr. Jerdon believe that, where the Coracias Indica and C. affinis inosculate, an inter-
breeding frequently takes place, since specimens partaking of the colouring of both are often met with. We
know that such an intermixture occasionally occurs with some few other species ; but this must be regarded as
quite exceptional, and not the rule. When it does, it is mostly among the Gallinacez, whose hoi blood
renders them more salacious than insessorial birds. On the interbreeding of the C. Indica and C. affinis
Mr. Blyth has published some remarks which I take the liberty of transcribing, as I also do the neCounts
given of the latter species by Mr. Jerdon, Dr. Francis Buchanan Hamilton, and Sir Robert Schomburgk.
“The numerous specimens of Rollers from Assam, Arracan, and Tenasserim which I have seen,” says
Mr. Blyth, ‘all pertain strictly to this species, having the upper parts greener than in C. Indica, the neck
and breast, devoid of the reddish-brown colour proper to the latter species, being purplish-dusky, varied

with bright purple on the fore neck; and the entire under surface of the wing,

except near the tips of the
primaries, is deep purple; but I have obtained several specimens in the vicinity of Calcutta, and some from
Tipperah, which present every gradation of plumage from one to the other of these species, and also some
in the pure C. afinis plumage ; from which I infer that, where found together in the same locality, they not
unfrequently interbreed, and tend to merge into a single blended race. It may be further remarked that I
have never seen an example of the true C. affinis with the broad purple terminal band to the tail, which distin-
guishes the adult of C. Indica; but I have seen this imperfectly developed in the mixed race, which latter
has also commonly the fore part of the under surface of the wing intermingled purple and verditer.”

Dr. F. Buchanan Hamilton mentions, in his MS., that “ this bird is very common at Gualpara throughout
the year, the natives considering it as distinct from the Nil-khant.”

“This species,” says Mr. Jerdon, “ chiefly differs from the Indian one in the upper parts being greener,
the neck and breast without any reddish-brown, being dusky purplish varied with bright purple, and in the
wing being deep purple ; it also wants the broad terminal purple band to the tail.

«The Burmese Roller is the only one found to the east of the Bay of Bengal, and in Assam, but it spreads
into the Sunderbunds, Tipperah, and even the neighbourhood of Calcutta itself, where it mingles and inter-
breeds with the Indian Roller. Blyth has procured many specimens, which present every gradation of
; intermingling of affined species takes place in the Green

plumage from one to the other. The same ae
It does not differ in its habits or voice

Pigeons of the south and north of India, and in several other birds. Ee :
: : : a 3 Ps oy cide -e wary and less familiar than the
from the Indian Roller; those which I saw in Burmah were decidedly more wary ¢ amilia

Indian bird.” : i en
andsome bird, the ook tackah of the Siamese, is dressed in

Sir Robert Schomburgk states that “this h 2
‘ 1 i 1, shading into @reen and grey. Is greates
blues of all shades, azure and smaragdinous included, shading off into green ¢ grey 7 g '
The bird is by no means uncommon in the gardens attached to the houses in
in the vicinity discovered one be
now by making gyrations 10 the air, and then by
nor are bis tormentors satisfied until

enemies are the Crows.
Bangkok; but scarcely have the Crows

attack upon him. The Roller endeavours to avoid them,
uttering all the time pitiful cries ; itors:
: s of this bird, principally the primaries and scapu-

also manufactured in Siam, but they are not

fore they make a simultaneous

alighting upon the branch of a tree,
The beautiful blue wing-feather

he leaves the grounds.
fans; into which they are

laries, are exported to China for tiny
= 99
ee Ree se that come from China. . ee
BP tied figured i é from Assam specimens, will be readily recognized as a
The bird figured on the accompanying Plate, from As: vo ee
distinct species by every ornithologist. It will be seen that there is no ghte:
: : : e . . . = - ms ; ee at
fl which is so conspicuous 1 Coracias Indica; the throz M
yi e . a . . < 2 > eS. > 7 or oT oreen.
also visible on the abdomen, while 1m others it is inclined to verditer 2
C se y

also is more blue, and in
terminal band on the tai

certain positions that colour 1s

|

IIN)ITAH ANI if. a |
= . M re