198 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



moss, hidden away in holes of trees and buildings, or 

 in clefts of rock. See Plate 13, Figs. 65, 66. ' 



A no less beautiful bird is the Blue-throat, of which 

 there are two — perhaps three — forms found in Euro- 

 pean countries. The first has a red spot in the middle 

 of the blue throat ; the second a white spot. A third, 

 unspotted form may be but a variety of the white- 

 spotted species. The red-spotted Bluethroat is a bird 

 of high northern latitudes, where its song enlivens the 

 nightless Arctic summer and rivals that of the Night- 

 ingale in richness. The white-spotted bird breeds 

 south of the Baltic Sea. See Plate 12, Fig. 63. 



Probably the English Redbreast, or Robin, holds 

 chief place in the long roll of British birds, on account 

 of its friendly ways and sweet notes. It is a small bird, 

 about five and a half inches in length, olive-green 

 above, throat and fore part of the breast orange-red. 

 This bird is found even in large cities, in the parks and 

 gardens. The males and females are alike in colour- 

 ing, but the first plumage of the young birds is a dull 

 brown, showing no trace of the orange-red throat so 

 conspicuous in the parents. They are often mistaken 

 for the females of the species. See Plate 12, Fig. 61. 



While it is not true to say that no brightly coloured 

 birds sing well, it is a well-known fact that some of the 

 most soberly clad are the sweetest of all the songsters. 

 This is peculiarly true of the Nightingale, whose won- 

 derful melody is celebrated throughout the world. 

 This bird is found in many parts of the Old World, 

 and is very common in Great Britain. The sexes are 

 coloured alike, reddish-brown above and whitish below. 

 See Plate 12, Fig. 59. 



