RARER BRITISH BIRDS. 



BLUE-THROATED REDSTART. 



Ficedula Sueccica. LINNAEUS. 



THE Blue-throated Redstart is nearly allied to our common 

 Redbreast in shape and habit, but differs much in the colour 

 of its plumage. Latham says, that it has an agreeable song, 

 that it sings during the night, and that the fine blue colour 

 of the throat goes off if it is confined in a cage, not retaining 

 it after the first moult. The same author also remarks, that 

 they are pretty common in Alsace, and are thought very good 

 food ; many being at times caught for the use of the table. 



Temminck says, it is more rare in France and Holland than 

 our common Redstart ; and that it builds in bushy places, and 

 in holes in trees, laying six eggs of a blueish green colour. 



This bird, although it appears not to be uncommon in many 



parts of the Continent, as far north as Sweden, and south as 



Gibraltar, is of very rare occurrence in the British Isles, there 



only being, that we are aware of, one well-authenticated instance 



c 



