BLUE-THROATED WARBLER. 235 



land in Suffolk, witli the following notes of his own obser- 

 vations on the habits of this species on the Continent. 

 " This bird makes its appearance early in spring, preceding 

 that of the Nightingale by ten or twelve days. I have al- 

 ways found this species in the breeding season in low swampy 

 grounds, on the woody borders of boggy heaths, and on the 

 banks of streams running through wet springy meadows, 

 where there is abundance of alder and willow underwood. 

 The nest is placed on the ground among plants of the bog 

 myrtle, in places overgrown with coarse grass, on the sides of 

 sloping banks, in the bottom of stubs of scrubby brushwood 

 in Avet situations. It is well concealed and difficult to dis- 

 cover. I do not believe they ever build in holes of trees. 

 The nest is composed on the outside of dead grass and a 

 little moss, and lined with finer grass. The eggs from four 

 to six in number, of a uniform greenish blue, eight lines long, 

 and five lines and a half in breadth. 



The notes of this bird have some resemblance to those of 

 the Whinchat, but are more powerful. While singing, if un- 

 disturbed, it perches on the tops of the brushwood or low 

 trees ; but on the least alarm it conceals itself among the 

 low cover. It does not exhibit the quivering motion of the 

 tail peculiar to the Redstarts ; but very frequently jerks up 

 the tail in the manner of the Nightingale and Robin, and 

 w^hile singing, often spreads it. It frequently rises on wing 

 a considerable height above the brushwood, singing, with the 

 tail spread like a fan, and alights often at a distance of fifty 

 or sixty yards from the spot where it rose. On approaching 

 the nest when it contains their young, their notes of alarm or 

 anger resemble those of the Nightingale, but end Avith a 

 short sharp note instead of the Nightingale's croak : the 

 Avings are then lowered, the tail spread and jerked up. The 

 Blue-throat commences his song with the first dawn of day, 

 and it maybe heard in the evening when most of the feathered 



