402 THE BLTJEBHEAST. 



after the first moulting ; and especially that the blue of the 

 breast becomes much paler, and at last changes into grey. It 

 soon grows so tame as to eat from the hand, and even to come 

 at a whistle. Its voice is beautiful, and almost gives the im- 

 pression of two voices : the first a deep humming sound, like 

 the vibration of a string ; the second producing a succession of 

 soft flute-like passages. If allowed to fly about the room, the 

 Bluebreast always seeks a sunny place, and lays itself on its 

 belly to bask in the sun, before singing. Its notes bear a 

 strong resemblance to those of the Common Wagtail, though 

 the latter wants the humming sound above described. 



ADDITIONAL. The Blue-throated Warbler, as it is frequently 

 called, is with us an extremely rare bird. YARRELL mentions but 

 two specimens, shot in this country, one near Newcastle, and the 

 other in Dorsetshire : we have, however, heard of two other 

 specimens, both taken by one individual, near theHeculvers, on the 

 Kentish coast ; they may, we believe, be now seen in the Margate 

 museum, for which Mr. STEPHEN MUMMEEY, who obtained them, 

 has succeeded in securing many other rare specimens. Mr. J. D. 

 HOT, a Suffolk naturalist, has furnished Mr. YARRELL with the 

 following particulars relating to this species, as observed by him 

 on the Continent : " This bird makes its appearance early in 

 spring, preceding that of the Nightingale by ten or twelve days. 

 I have always 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, on places 

 overgrown with coarse grass, on the sides of sloping banks, in the 

 bottom of stubs of scraggy brushwood, in wet situations. It is 

 well concealed, and difficult to discover. I do not believe that 

 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 undisturbed, 

 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 E-edstarts, 

 but very frequently jerks up the tail in the manner of the Night- 

 ingale and Hobin, and while singing, often spreads it. It frequently 

 rises on the wing a considerable height above the brushwood, 

 singing, with the tail spread like a fan, and alights often at a 



