9606 Birds. 



branches the wings were in constant motion, as is observed in the 

 hedgesparrow. I saw it hopping among the decayed leaves in search 

 of worms, and noticed its beak crammed vvilli them ; it was also seen 

 to alight on a path, along which it swiflly ran, like a wagtail. Though 

 so restless a bird, it did not wander forty yards from the spot where 

 first seen daring the hour or more that 1 observed it, and its song was 

 constantly renewed. Just before the evening closed in, it sat for ten 

 minutes or more almost motionless, not appearing to notice me, though 

 standing beneath the leafless tree on which it was perched six or seven 

 yards overhead. It is not only smaller than the redbreast, but a neater 

 looking bird, the plumage being more even and close. Though in 

 figure I could trace no resemblance to the redstart, still there is some- 

 thing in the abrupt manner and flight which reminds one of it; but 

 Macgillivray could never, I think, have placed it in the genus Ruli- 

 cilla had he ever seen the living bird. Temminck's remark, " Habite 

 dans les memes contrees que I'espece precedente," shows that he con- 

 sidered it a species of robin. The bird under notice must be well 

 nigh a year old. Its general appearance is that of a dwarfish robin, a 

 mere variety of that species, to prove which I have only to state that 

 every unscientific person who has seen it has pronounced it to be a 

 robin ; even the gardener on the spot, who has had opportunities of 

 observing it for many weeks, tells me that he took it for a young or 

 immature robin, and that it had been frequently seen throughout the 

 winter, generally among the trees on a sheltered bank near the pond 

 and rivulet flowing into it. Chin and upper part of the throat of a 

 gi-ayish white, tinged with yellow ; this gorget-like patch extends to 

 the cheeks and over the bill, which is black, and longer and straighter 

 than the redbreast's, but not, I think, so stout, nor is the eye so full. 

 Breast of a dull bluish colour, longitudinally streaked with reddish 

 brown, and slightly spotted and shaded with a dull white ; the under 

 parts of the latter colour. Under part of the tail of a darkish brown ; 

 the external feathers whitish. Head and back of a grayish brown. 

 Wings reddish brown ; tail darker. The head proportionally larger 

 than that of the redbreast. The plumage has an imperfect appearance, 

 the colours not being well defined, as in the young robin. There is 

 no doubt as to its having been seen as early as February, and I am led 

 to believe that it was first observed in the autumn ; if so, it is difficult 

 to account for its appearance unless bred in the underclifF, which is 

 not very probable. In Macgillivray's time the appearance of the blue- 

 throated warbler in England had been but twice recorded. In 

 anticipation of any remarks on this note, I have only to say that, 



