THE ARCTIC BLUE-THROAT. 115 



the above-mentioned birds, it manages to conceal 

 its nest very effectually. It is found breeding 

 within the Arctic Circle, and Mr. Seebohm 

 writes : — " The tundra is seldom smooth like a 

 common, but is generally a cluster of little hum- 

 mocks or mounds, covered over with rushes, 

 carices, cloudberry, and other ground-fruits, with 

 sometimes a stunted birch or willow, scarcely 

 higher than the coarse grass. These hummocks 

 are the favourite breeding-places of the Arctic 

 Blue-throat. I have generally found the nest 

 well concealed . in a snug hole on the side of one 

 of these hummocks, just such a place as a Robin 

 would choose in such a locality. The nest is 

 not unlike that of a Robin. The hole is well 

 filled with dry grass and roots, and at the far end 

 a neat deep cup is formed, lined with fine roots 

 and hair. It is almost impossible to find the 

 nest, except by accidently frightening off the bird, 

 and even then it takes some time, so carefully is 

 it concealed. The eggs are five or six in number, 

 and are laid about the middle of June. They 

 are greenish-blue, more or less distinctly marked 

 with pale reddish-brown, and are very similar to 



the eggs of the Nightingale." 



8* 



