The Red-Spotted Bluethroat. 51 



which extend to the hot regions of central Africa and southern Asia. 



The migratory flights of this little bird between regions so widely separated 

 have furnished the most interesting material towards a final solution of a 

 hitherto open question, viz: What is the greatest speed attainable by a bird 

 during its migration flight ? and have yielded the astonishing result of one 

 hundred and eighty geographical miles per hour."* 



Why one hardly ever sees this lovely bird in captivityt is a puzzle which 

 I have never been able to solve ; not only are its plumage and song admitted 

 to be well-nigh perfect, but it is itself naturally tame and confiding : Gatke 

 says, for instance : — " If, during one's garden occupations, one pays no special 

 attention to the bird, or pretends not to notice it, it will for hours long hop 

 around near one, at twenty, fifteen, or even a less number of paces off", some- 

 times in rapid, sometimes in more measured leaps, catching insects the while ; 

 at each of its many pauses it gives a jerk with its tail, which it has raised 

 above its wings, and looks around with clear, dark eyes. If, however, it 

 becomes aware of being watched, it vanishes swift as lightning, in long bounds, 

 under some shrubs or among some bushes, only, however, after a few moments, 

 to again make its appearance as simple-hearted as before." 



As regards the practicability of securing plenty of examples of this species, 

 Gatke says: — "I remember one occasion, in May, 1845 ^^ 1846, when there 

 were some sixty of the most beautiful male birds of this species, all picked 

 specimens, lying on a large flat dish in my cellar; and I might easily have 

 doubled that number had I accepted all that were offered me on the same 

 day. Aeuckens obtained nearly as many, all these birds having been caught 

 by boys, in nets." 



There is therefore not the least reason why this bird should not be as 

 readily procurable, and when reconciled to captivity, make as delightful an 

 aviary pet, as the universally beloved Pekin Nightingale (Liothrix luteusj : it 

 ought to be quite as cheaply obtainable ; possibly the White- spotted Bluethroat 

 may be purchasable from the Dutch dealers, but I never saw a specimen of 

 a Bluethroat exposed in the shop of any bird- dealer, either in England or on 

 the Continent. Dr. Gunther, the late keeper of the Zoological Department in 

 the Natural History Museum, informs me that he has had several Bluethroats, 

 but he found them very delicate and difficult to keep alive : this may perhaps 

 be the reason for the rarity of this species in the market. 



* This statement has since been called in question by scientific Ornithologists. 



t An example of the Dutch race was exhibited at the Crystal Palace in February T896 : it was somewhat 

 knocked about; possibly freshly imported. 



