TURDIN.-E. 



35 



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THE BLUETHROAT. 



Cyanecula suecia (Linnreus). 



There are two, and perhaps three, forms of the Bluethroat. The 

 first, which has its breeding-grounds in Arctic and sub- Arctic Europe 

 and Asia, exhibits a red spot in the centre of the blue gorget of the 

 adult male ; the second form, which breeds south of the Baltic, has 

 the spot ivhite ; in the third and rarer form, the gorget is unspotted 

 blue, but as the feathers, on being raised, show white at their bases, 

 it seems probable that this last is an intensified development of the 

 white-spotted form, with which alone it is associated as regards its 

 geographical distribution. I am not aware of any distinctive 

 characters by which the females and young of these forms may be 

 separated. 



The Red-spotted form is the only one which has been proved to 

 visit this country ; for although an entirely blue-throated bird is 

 said to have been observed by the late Capt. Hadfield in the Isle of 

 Wight, it was not obtained. Since 1826 this Arctic race has been 

 recorded in England at irregular intervals, generally on the 

 autumnal migration, and sparingly in spring ; sometimes on the 

 southern, but more often on the eastern, coasts. In September, 1S83, 

 considerable numbers were observed on our east coast, especially in 

 Norfolk, where a much larger flock dropped in the same month of 

 1884. ]Most of these visitors are immature, and they merely stay to 



