24 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



nearly the limits of its range. Seldom seen on 

 account of its secluded habits, it secretes itself when 

 alarmed among the weeds, grass, and thick under- 

 growth. The males arrive about a fortnight before 

 the females. 



EED-SPOTTED BLUE-THROAT. Ruticilla sueciea, (L.) 



Yarrell, i. p. 321 ; Cyanecula sueciea, Harting, p. 102 ; Dresser, 

 ii. p. 317; Ihis List, p. 10 ; Erithacus sueciea, Seehohm, i. 

 p. 269. 



The three forms of Blue-Throated Warblers — 

 sueciea, with a red spot in the centre of a blue throat 

 (Motaeilla sueeica of Linnseus), Sylvia leueoeyanea of 

 Brehm, with a white spot in the centre of the blue 

 throat, and Sylvia Woljii, with the entire throat 

 blue — are regarded by Mr. Harting as probably one 

 species in different phases of plumage. The Northern 

 or Arctic form, sueciea, is said to have been killed 

 in Dorsetshire {J. C. Dale, "Naturalist," ii. p. 275). 

 There is a specimen of the European Blue-Throat, 

 leueoeyanea — E. eyaneeulus of Seebohm — in the 

 Salisbury Museum, belonging to the collection of 

 the late Mr. Cox, a resident in Dorsetshire, but with 

 no indication of the locality whence obtained. 



EEDSTART. Ruticilla jphoenicurus, (L) 



Yarrell, i. p. 329 ; Harting, p. 12 ; Dresser, ii. p. 277 ; Seebohm, 

 i. p. 287 ; Ihis List, p. 8 ; Motaeilla phoenieurus, Pidtenei/s 

 List, p. 8. 



The Redstart is a summer migrant by no means 

 common in the county. It arrives in April, and 



