THE NORWEGIAN BLUETHROAT. 473 



was not identified until many years afterwards (L. A. C. Edwards, 

 Brit. B., v, p. 224).] 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. South and middle Sweden, south Finland, 

 Denmark, a narrow belt along the Baltic in north Germany, north- 

 east Germany generally, Galizia, Transylvania, Roumania, Russia, 

 east to the Ural (Orenburg) and south-west Siberia to the Altai. 

 Casual and rare in west Europe. Wintering in east Africa. 



[NOTK. Two examples of the SIBERIAN RTTBY-THHOAT, Luscinia calliope 

 (Pallas), are said by Mr. J. P. Nunn to have been observed by him near 

 Westgate-on-Sea (Kent) in Oct., 1900 (c/. Saunders, Brit. B., i, p. 8), but on 

 this evidence the bird cannot be admitted. It breeds from Siberia to 

 Kamtschatka, Mongolia and north China, wintering in the Philippines, south 

 China and India, and has been observed in the Urals, Caucasus, south France (2), 

 and Italy (4).] 



LUSCINIA SVECICA 



193. Luscinia svecica gaetkei (Kleinschm.) THE NOR- 

 WEGIAN BLUETHROAT. 



EKITHACUS GAETKEI Kleinschmidt, Journ. f. Orn., 1904, p. 302 (Norwegian 

 Alps, but type a migrant from Heligoland). 



Ruticilla suecica (Linnaeus), Yarrell, i, p. 321 ; Cyanecula suecica (Linnaeus), 

 Saunders, p. 35. 



DESCRIPTION. Moults like L. s. 

 svecica and all plumages same, 

 except that blue on throat of adult 

 male in summer is deeper in colour. 

 Averages longer in wing and longest 

 primaries longer in proportion to 

 secondaries than in L. s. svecica (see 

 " Measurements"). 



Measurements and structure. 

 <J wing 74-79 mm., tail 53-59, tarsus 

 26-28, bill from skull 15-16 (12 

 measured). Primaries : 1st 1-4 mm. 

 longer than primary-coverts, 3rd T he Norwegian siuethroat .(Luscinia s. 

 and 4th longest, 5th 1 shorter, 2nd gaetkei). Female winter. 



5-7 shorter, 6th 3-6 shorter, 7th 7-10 



shorter. Secondaries from tip of longest to tip of longest primary, 

 <$ 15-19 mm., $ 14-17. 



FIELD-CHARACTERS. Frequents thickets of birch and willow, 

 especially in swampy places, at high altitudes in southern parts 

 of range, but from sea-level upwards in north. Of Robin-like habits, 

 but for most part shy and skulking, except when feeding young. 

 Male sings from elevated perch, tail in constant motion, frequently 

 spread and shut. Song loud, sweet, tuneful, of great variety, and 

 with considerable powers of mimiciy. Alarm-note a harsh " tack." 



