444 CYANECULA SUECICA. 



Obs. The White-spotted Bluethroat (C. leucocyanea), which is generally admitted now to be a distinct race, has, as 

 its name implies, the spot of the throat satiny white. The present species, however, exhibits a tendency to assume 

 the white throat in some localities, although in other parts, such as Scandinavia, it never does ; while there are 

 likewise certain regions (Holland and N. Germany) in the habitat of the other race where it is known always to 

 possess the white throat. Captain Shelley, writing in his ' Birds of Egypt' of C. suecica, says they differ consi- 

 derably in the colour of the throat-spot, " which may be met with in all stages from pure white to rufous." 

 Dr. Alfuin relates an instance, in ' Naumaunia " for 1855, of a young bird, which turned out to be a true C. leuco- 

 cyanea, assuming a red throat-spot for a few days during the time that this was turning from greyish white to 

 pure white ; from which combined testimony we gather that each race occasionally assumes in the throat-spot the 

 colour of the other, but that they put on their true dress in the breeding-season in the localities to which thev 

 resort to rear their young. Mr. Hume remarks that the white-spotted race is rarely found in India. Specimens 

 so identified may have been perhaps C. suecica. A third race exists in Germany, Holland, and Spain, in which 

 the throat is unspotted blue. It is rare, and is the C. wolfi of Brehm. 



Distribution. — The interesting fact that at certain periods of their existence birds are possessed of the 

 instinct of migration to a greater degree than at others, and consequently are induced at times to overstep the 

 ordinary limits of their annual journeys, is demonstrated in more than one instance in the history of Ceylon 

 ornithology. 



The case of the present species is one of the most interesting which I have, to deal with in this work. It 

 takes its place in our lists as a migratory straggler on the evidence of Layard, who procured " a few specimens 

 in the month of March at Ambegainoa; " one of these is still extant in the Poole collection, and is the only 

 example I have ever seen from Ceylon. I am under the impression that a bird I met with in a thicket, while 

 tin versing some jungle on the slopes of the Dolookauda mountain in the Seven Korales, was this species; 

 but I was unable to verify my identification, either by shooting it or sufficiently observing it as it darted into 

 the underwood in the shade of the thick jungle. On some future occasion it will doubtless be procured again 

 in Ceylon ; for its visits are, perhaps, of more frequent occurrence than has been supposed. 



It is a cool-weather visitant to India, spreading more or less throughout the country ; but it does not 

 appear to be often found in the extreme south, neither Dr. Fairbauk nor Mr. Bourdillon having procured it. 

 Jerdon remarks that it is found in " suitable localities," from which I gather that there are many districts in 

 which it is not usually met with. It extends as far east as Burmah, having been procured by Wardlaw Ramsay 

 on the Pegu plain, and to the Andamans it is a regular annual visitor. It leaves the country for the north in 

 March and April, and arrives in Turkestan, according to Dr. Scully, at the end of March, and leaves again in 

 September. Its migration, however, is continued much further north than Turkestan ; for Mr. Seebohin 

 procured it in the valley of the Yenesay, and found it breeding as far up as latitude GG|° N. Dr. Finsch 

 found it in July 1870 on the Chinese Altai and on the Irtisch, as also at Semipalatinsk ; and Yon Middendorfi 

 observed it breeding as far north as 70° N. It extends to the eastern parts of Siberia, and is found, according 

 to Swinhoe, throughout China. From Western Asia and North-eastern Africa it migrates to Northern Russia 

 and Scandinavia, breeding there in great numbers ; and it occurs on passage in the spring in Heligoland. In 

 Palestine it is, according to Canon Tristram, a winter visitant. Captain Shelley remarks that it is an 

 extremely abundant species in the delta of the Nile, and that it is very generally distributed throughout Egypt. 

 1 1 does not arrive in Northern Russia until late in the spring, as Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie Brown did not 

 observe the first migrants to the Lowcr-Petchora district until the 23rd May. 



Habits. — This handsome Warbler, which is gifted with such fine notes that it is styled, in some countries, 

 the Nightingale, frequents gardens aud open country in India, and is, according to Jerdon, particularly partial 

 to reeds and corn-fields. Its habits are in the highest degree interesting. I subjoin the following account of its 

 vocal powers from Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie Brown's paper on the Birds of the Lower Petchora : — " Often 

 were we puzzled by the mimicry of this fine songster. On one occasion, after listening for some time to the 

 well-known musical cry of the Terek Sandpiper, blended with the songs of scores of other birds, on approaching 

 we saw our little friend perched high in a willow-bush, with throat distended, bill rapidly vibrating, and 

 uttering the tirr-r-r-whui with perfect distinctness. We have heard the Blue-throated Warbler also imitate, 

 amongst other bird- voices, the trilling first notes of the Wood-Sandpiper, or the full rich song of the Redwing. 



