256 SYLVIAS. 



north as Russia, Siberia, Finland, West Bothnia, and the 

 most distant part of Sweden. It was seen by Mr. Hewit- 

 son in Norway ; but, according to M. Nilsson, it is never 

 seen in the lower or southern part of Sweden, nor is it in- 

 cluded among the birds of Denmark. It appears to prefer 

 the southern parts of France, and is more abundant in 

 Lorraine and Alsace than elsewhere, in which latter-named 

 country this bird is considered a delicate article of food, 

 and great numbers are caught for the table. 



The Blue-throated Warbler is found in Sicily, Malta, 

 and Egypt ; Mr. Blyth has also found it in India, near 

 Calcutta. 



The food of this species is earthworms, insects, and ber- 

 ries ; and its song is said to be pleasing. 



I have been favoured by Mr. J. D. Hoy, of Stoke Nay- 

 land in Suffolk, with 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 wet situations. It is well con- 

 cealed and difficult to discover. I do not believe they ever 

 build in holes of trees. The nest is composed on the out- 

 side of dead grass and a little moss, and lined with finer 

 grass. The eggs from four to six in number, of a uni- 

 form greenish blue, eight lines long, and five lines and a 

 half in breadth. 



