342 THE THRUSH FAMILY 



are greyish brown, the major and median coverts having rust-coloured tips, and 

 the inner secondaries rust-coloured margins. The fore-neck, fore-breast, and 

 flanks are dusky, and striated with pale brown. These striations are formed by 

 broad brown shaft-streaks running down very dark brown feathers. With age 

 the plumage becomes lighter, owing to the loss by abrasion of the dark areas of the 

 feathers, [w. P. P.] 



2. Distribution. The bluethroat has a wide range over the greater part of 

 the European and Asiatic continents, and is divided into numerous local forms. 

 The northern races have the throat spot red, while in southern forms it is usually 

 white. One of the latter (C. svecica cyanecula) has reached us a few times. The 

 red-spotted birds (C. svecica gcetkei) which visit our east coasts on passage belong 

 to a large race which breeds in some of the central mountain ranges (Fille Fjeld, 

 Dovre Fjeld and possibly elsewhere) of Norway. In Sweden, Lapland, North 

 Russia and West Siberia C. svecica svecica (L.) replaces it, and other races have 

 been described from West Turkestan, the Altai district, and Eastern Siberia. 



3. Migration. A bird of passage through a limited portion on the north 

 and east of the British area. There are a few records for the Outer Hebrides, 

 Orkney and Fair Isle (Shetlands). On the east coast of England and in Sussex 

 and Surrey it is rare, but in Norfolk it may be looked for each year as a regular 

 arrival in small numbers. The birds that visit us appear to be the scattered 

 wing of the main body of the migrants, which pass further east (Heligoland, 

 Holland) on their way to Northern Africa, probably its north-west side 

 (Hartert, Vogel der Paldarktischen Fauna, i. p. 745). The species is chiefly 

 seen on the southward migration, and mostly in September. It is a nocturnal 

 migrant (cf. Saunders, Man. Brit. Birds, 1899, pp. 34-35 ; British Birds, i. p. 55 ; 

 Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, pp. 39-41 ; Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, pp. 27-30 ; 

 Gatke, Vogelwarte Helgoland, Eng. Trans., 1895, pp. 264-69, etc.). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The species does not breed in the British Isles. 

 [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Insects, worms, and berries. [F. B. K.] 



BRITISH-REDBREAST [Erithacus rubecula melophilus (Hartert). 

 Robin, ruddock. French, rouge-gorge ; German, Rotkelchen ; Italian, 

 pettirosso], 



i. Description. The sexes are alike, and distinguished by the bright orange 

 or tawny red of the throat and fore-breast. (PI. 45.) Length, 5|- in. [148 mm.]. 



