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. 



BED-SPOTTED BLUE-THROAT. Ruticilla suecica, (L.) 



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

 ii. p. 317 ; Ibis List, p. 10 ; Erithacus suecica, Seebohm, i. 

 p. 269. 



The three forms of Blue-Throated Warblers 

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

 (Motacilla suecica of Linnaeus), Sylvia leucocyanea of 

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

 throat, and Sylvia Wolfii, with the entire throat 

 blue are regarded by Mr. Harting as probably one 

 species in different phases of plumage. The Northern 

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

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

 There is a specimen of the European Blue-Throat, 

 leucocyanea E. cyaneculus 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. 



KEDSTAKT. Ruticilla phcenicurus, (L.) 



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

 i. p. 287 ; Ibis List, p. 8 ; Motacilla phoenicurus, Pulteney's 

 List, p. 8. 



The Kedstart is a summer migrant by no means 

 common in the county. It arrives in April, and 



