  We present high resolution UVES+VLT spectroscopic observations of 56 stars in
the extended horizontal branch (EHB) of the Galactic globular clusters NGC
1904, NGC 2808, NGC 6093, and NGC 7078. Our data reveal for the first time the
presence in NGC 1904 of a sizable population of fast (vsini > 20 km/s)
horizontal branch (HB) rotators, confined to the cool end of the EHB, similar
to that found in M13. We also confirm the fast rotators already observed in NGC
7078. The cooler stars (Teff < 11,500 K) in these three clusters show a range
of rotation rates, with a group of stars rotating at ~ 15 km/s or less, and a
fast rotating group at ~ 30 km/s. Apparently, the fast rotators are relatively
more abundant in NGC 1904 and M13, than in NGC 7078. No fast rotators have been
identified in NGC 2808 and NGC 6093. All the stars hotter than Teff ~ 11,500 K
have projected rotational velocities vsini < 12 km/s, but less than 20% have
vsini < 2 km/s. The connection between photometric gaps in the HB and the
change in the projected rotational velocities is not confirmed by the new data.
However, our data are consistent with a relation between this discontinuity and
the HB jump. We discuss a number of possibilities for the origin of the stellar
rotation distribution along the HB. We conclude that none of them can yet
provide a satisfactory explanation of the observations.
