BLUETHROAT 467 



The redbreast (in the usual acceptation of the term) ranges and 

 breeds throughout temperate Europe, although met with only locally 

 in the south of Spain. Its representative in the Canaries has been 

 separated as a distinct species, although the rank of a local race might 

 perhaps better express the difference. Eastwards our bird extends to 

 the Urals ; but in Siberia, and again in the Caucasus and Persia, its 

 place is taken by other species. In the Outer Hebrides and the 

 Shetlands the redbreast does not ordinarily breed, although it is re- 

 corded to have nested in the latter islands in 190 1. As is the case 

 with so many resident birds, redbreasts undergo a partial migration, 

 those from the more northern districts coming south, while some of 

 those inhabiting southern Europe cross the Mediterranean. 



Nothing in the habits of this bird — unless it be its confiding 

 nature and its winter singing — calls for special notice. The nest, 

 which is made of leaves and moss, neatly lined with rootlets and hair, 

 may be placed in almost any conceivable situation near the ground — 

 sometimes even on a building to which access is obtained through a 

 broken pane of glass. The eggs, which vary in number from five to 

 eight, are very characteristic, having a white or cream-coloured ground, 

 sometimes faintly tinged with pink, upon which are variable markings 

 of brown or reddish brown, and underlying lavender cloudings. Not 

 unfrequently the markings form a cap at the larger end, and pure 

 white specimens are known, although very rare. 



The British redbreast {En'thacus nibeciila inelophilus) differs from 

 E. rubeada typica of Scandinavia and Germany in the deeper brownish 

 red throat, and the darker and more rufous upper surface ; the sides of 

 the body are also darker, and the brown colouring more extended. 

 Although the British redbreast is easily distinguished from the typical 

 north European bird, the redbreast of Teneriffe and Grand Canary 

 (E. r. superbus) is somewhat nearer. The deep red throat of the British 

 bird is peculiar. 



_,, ^, ^ As the redbreast derives one of its chief claims to 



Bluethroat 



/_ , generic distinction from the brilliant red of its throat 



(Cyaneeula ° 



. ^ and chest, so the bluethroat is characterised by the 

 suBcica). 



presence in the same region of the colour from which 



it takes its name. Whether the fact of this difference in the colouring 



of the breast would alone be sufficient to justify the generic separation 



of the bluethroat from the redbreast, may possibly be an open question, 



but any doubt on this point is removed by the circumstance that in the 



present species the bright colouring is restricted to the cock. Moreover, 



