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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Note: Zimbabwe Menu
The Lilac-breasted Roller (also lilacbreasted roller,
Coracias caudata) is a common resident in large parts
of the Southern African region including Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and parts of
South Africa.
They are found in a variety of woodland types and will
usually be seen hawking for insects from a favoured
position in a tall tree, telephone pole or similar
vantage point. They tend to be quite noisy when
carrying out their characteristic aerobatic display.
The Lilacbreasted Roller differs from its Racket-tailed
cousin in that it has pointed tail feathers not
spatulate tips. The latter bird is less well
distributed than the Lilacbreasted and favours moist
broad-leafed woodland and hill country.
10. (Zool.) Any species of small ground snakes of the family
Tortricidae.
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Ground roller (Zool.), any one of several species of
Madagascar rollers belonging to Atelornis and allied
genera. They are nocturnal birds, and feed on the ground.
Roller bolt, the bar in a carriage to which the traces are
attached; a whiffletree. [Eng.]
Roller gin, a cotton gin inn which rolls are used for
separating the seeds from the fiber.
Roller mill. See under Mill.
Roller skate, a skate which has small wheels in the place
of the metallic runner; -- designed for use in skating
upon a smooth, hard surface, other than ice.
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