TURDIN/K. 



35 



THE BLUETHROAT. 



■ Cyanecula sukcica (LiniiKLis). 



It may he well to commence by stating that there are certainly 

 two, and perhaps three, forms of the Bkiethroat. 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 ; whereas the second form, which breeds south and west of 

 the Baltic, has the spot white. In the third and much rarer form, 

 the gorget is ////jr/^6'//c'^/^///^; 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 Capt. 

 Hadfield in the Isle of Wight, it was not obtained } and an example 

 with a white spot, supposed by Mr. Hancock to have been taken 

 near London in May 1S45, was purchased from a dealer whose 

 traftk with Holland was notorious. An adult male from Moscow 

 belonging to Mr. Seebohm exhibits an apparently white mirror ; but 

 on minute examination a 'io.w red feathers are discernible in the 

 centre of the white ; indicating that the bird belongs to the red- 



