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This hand-colored engraving by Prideaux John Selby illustrates the Roller (Coracias garrulus), perched on a weathered branch with sparse foliage. The bird’s vibrant plumage, blending shades of electric blue, chestnut brown, and black, is rendered with meticulous attention to texture and shading, emphasizing its striking appearance. The Roller’s characteristic stout bill and upright posture are distinctly captured, highlighting its robust and commanding presence.
From Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834), this plate depicts a species admired for its acrobatic flight and vivid coloring. While the Roller is a rare visitor to Britain, it is widely distributed across southern Europe, where it inhabits open woodlands and farmlands.
Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology
Prideaux John Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology, published between 1821 and 1834, is one of the most significant works in 19th-century ornithological literature. Selby, an English naturalist and artist, produced a two-volume set that featured life-sized depictions of British birds, a departure from earlier works that used smaller formats. His background as both a scientist and an artist allowed him to render birds with remarkable accuracy and beauty.
![Roller M[ale]. Plate XXXIV.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/101182.jpg)
