437 
THE FIRST RECORDED BRITISH EXAMPLE OF THE 
WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT. 
T. H. NELSON, M.B.O.U. 
HavinG recently had an opportunity of examining the Scar- 
borough specimen of this form of the Bluethroat, which I 
exhibited at the British Ornithologists’ Club on 16th October 
last, I am pleased to be able to state that its identity is fully 
established. 
It is in every way typical of the white-spotted form 
(Cyanecula wolf), the white in the centre of its dark blue 
throat being most distinct, and about half-an-inch in diameter. 
The plumage, even after the lapse of thirty years, still retains 
its deep intense hue. 
On questioning the present owner of the specimen as to the 
facts of the occurrence, he fully corroborated the original 
statements of the Rev. J. G. Tuck and Mr. Eagle Clarke; 
though, as the females of the two forms of Bluethroat cannot 
be distinguished, it is somewhat unfortunate that a misleading 
statement was made as to the sex of this bird, which accounts 
for its rejection by the authors of recent ornithological works. 
My informant remembers his father bringing home the bird, 
telling him he had found it under the telegraph wires, and 
pointing out where it had been damaged by coming in contact 
with them. 
For further particulars see ‘ Birds of Yorkshire,’ pp. 38-39. 
—— 
Mr. J. W. Harrison has a ‘Note on Oforobia (Larentia) autumnata, in 
Cleveland,’ in the November ‘ Entomologist.’ 
We have received the ‘ Transactions of the Eastbourne Natural History 
Society’ (Vol. IV., Pt. 2). It contains papers dealing with France, Portugal, 
Switzerland, etc. Some of the items are of distinct interest to Eastbourne 
naturalists, however. 
An interesting phase of the marine biological work which is being carried 
on at various parts of the coasts of the British Isles is illustrated by the capture, 
which has just been effected, of a marked crab which has travelled from 
Scarborough to Montrose—a distance of about 155 miles—in 689 days. 
Not very long ago a crab was marked and returned to the sea at Flam- 
borough, was caught at Beadnell in Northumberland, having walked a dis- 
tance of 108 miles in 114 days. It is an interesting fact also that one of the 
crabs liberated by Professor Meek, of the Marine Laboratory at Cullercoats, 
twelve miles north of Beadnell, was recaptured after an interval of nearly 
four months at Portlethen, in Kincardineshire, a distance of eighty miles. 
In all, Professor Meek, who acted for the Northumberland Sea Fisheries 
Committee, marked 145 crabs, whilst Dr. H. C. Williamson, of the Marine 
Laboratory at Aberdeen, a few years ago marked over 1,500 crabs ; but of 
the small percentage subsequently recovered none appeared to have been 
retaken far from the point at which they were liberated in the first instance. 
1907 December 1. 
