Rolland
ROMAIN, a French author; born at Clamecy, in 1866. He re- ROMAIN ROLLAND male Supérieure, became a professor of ceived his education at the École Nor- ROLLER the history of art at that school and taught there until the Sorbonne offered him a chair in his subject. He was recognized by the Academy in 1895 for his doctor's thesis. Later he wrote several plays, remarkable more for their style, vigor, and presentation of psychological analysis than for conformity to good dramatic construction. Beginning in 1903, he published noteworthy biographical and critical studies of musicians, artists, authors and upon aspects of the theater. He founded the "Revue Musicale" in 1901. As the author of "Jean-Christophe" he received one-quarter of the Nobel Prize in literature for 1915. This work, comprising three volumes has been translated into English and German.
Picarian birds characteristic of the Ethi- ROLLER (Coraciida), a family of opian and Oriental regions, though the common roller is extensively distributed in the Palæarctic region and a few species enter the Australian region. None are found in the New World. Madagascar possesses three species peculiar to itself, and so different from one another that they are regarded as types of different genera, and so different from other rollers that they are grouped into a separate sub-family Brachypteracianæ; they are named ground rollers, and are nocturnal in habit. An Indian species, Eurystomus orientalis, is also nocturnal.
The common roller (Coracias garrula) is an autumn or more rarely a spring visitor to the British Isles; and about 100 have been recorded since the first one was noticed by Sir Thomas Browne in 1644. Some have visited the Orkneys and Shetlands, one has been found as far W. as St. Kilda, and about half a dozen have been recorded from Ireland.
It is a straggler to northern Europe; in central Europe it is common; in countries bordering on the Mediterranean it is very abundant. It ranges through Asia to Omsk in Siberia and to west India. In winter it extends its migrations to Natal and Capo Colony.
In size it is about a foot long. The general color is light bluish green; tho mantle is chestnut-brown; the wings and rump are adorned with beautiful azure blue. The female resembles the male in plumage. Nesting takes place in the woody haunts in May. The nest, which is made in a hollow tree or wall, is built of a few chips, or of roots, grass, feathers, and hair, according to circumstances. The eggs are five or six in number and are of a glossy white color. The food consists of beetles and other insects captured on the ground. The name "roller" is given to the bird on account of its ROMAN ARCHITECTURE varied and unsteady flight and the habit the male has, during the breeding season, of indulging in extraordinary tumbling antics, and turning somersaults in the air.