Eurystomus Pacificus
(gcide) | Roller \Roll"er\ (r[=o]l"[~e]r), n.
1. One who, or that which, rolls; especially, a cylinder,
sometimes grooved, of wood, stone, metal, etc., used in
husbandry and the arts.
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2. A bandage; a fillet; properly, a long and broad bandage
used in surgery.
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3. (Naut.) One of series of long, heavy waves which roll in
upon a coast, sometimes in calm weather.
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4. A long, belt-formed towel, to be suspended on a rolling
cylinder; -- called also roller towel.
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5. (Print.) A cylinder coated with a composition made
principally of glue and molassess, with which forms of
type are inked previously to taking an impression from
them. --W. Savage.
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6. A long cylinder on which something is rolled up; as, the
roller of a map.
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7. A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc.
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8. (Zool.) Any insect whose larva rolls up leaves; a leaf
roller. see Tortrix.
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9. [CF. F. rollier.] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of
Old World picarian birds of the family Coraciadae. The
name alludes to their habit of suddenly turning over or
"tumbling" in flight.
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Note: Many of the species are brilliantly colored. The common
European species (Coracias garrula) has the head,
neck, and under parts light blue varied with green, the
scapulars chestnut brown, and the tail blue, green, and
black. The broad-billed rollers of India and Africa
belong to the genus Eurystomus, as the oriental
roller (Eurystomus orientalis), and the Australian
roller, or dollar bird (Eurystomus Pacificus). The
latter is dark brown on the head and neck, sea green on
the back, and bright blue on the throat, base of the
tail, and parts of the wings. It has a silvery-white
spot on the middle of each wing. The {lilac-breasted
roller} of Africa is Corcia caudata caudata, a
brightly colored bird of the family Corciidae having
malachite green, blue, purple-lilac, brown and
sea-green feathers from head to tail; it is a popular
sight with tourists in Africa.
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