314 



In North-eastern Africa the present species occurs as well as C. suecica; and judging from 

 the series I have before me, it appears to be almost as common. In North-western Africa, 

 however, the white-spotted bird alone appears to occur. Loche records it from Algeria, where 

 it winters ; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says (Ibis, 1871, p. 82) that he found it " pretty common 

 at Laghouat, seems only to show itself on being frightened, when it seeks the cover of rushes. 

 It prefers young wheat and reedy places, and, as a rule, does not perch on trees. There is but 

 little of the Redstart in its habits. I frequently saw the two species at the same time (though 

 never consorting); and a greater contrast it would be difficult to imagine." Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt 

 Drake also met with it in Tangiers and Eastern Morocco, where it is, he says (Ibis, 1867, p. 426), 

 " very shy, and consequently little seen, but not rare. This is the form with the white breast- 

 spot." 



To the eastward the present species is said to have occurred as far in Asia as India, where, 

 according to Mr. A. O. Hume (Lahore to Yarkand, p. 214), it has been met with at least on four 

 occasions ; and he possesses two Indian-killed specimens. De Filippi also records its occurrence 

 in the valley of the Lar, Persia. 



I may remark that I think it possible that immature specimens of C. suecica may have been 

 mistaken for the present species, as I have one such from India which has the throat white, 

 slightly clouded with yellowish. 



In its habits Cyanecula wolji does not appreciably differ from its close ally C. suecica; and 

 like that species it frequents marshy localities, keeping generally amongst the low marshes, 

 through which it creeps, mouse-like, and is not easily observed. Bailly writes that both the 

 male and female cooperate in the construction of the nest, and commeuce operations about the 

 8th or 12th of May ; the foundation and outside of the nest is constructed of leaves, dry grass, 

 moss, and rootlets, inside which the inner cup is composed of fine roots and lined with still finer 

 materials, as well as horsehair and feathers. It is placed on the ground, like that of the Red- 

 breast, at the foot of a bush, or in a tussock, or amongst small osiers. In its note and song the 

 present species closely resembles the Red-spotted Bluethroat, and, like that bird, feeds on insects 

 and their larva?, and to some extent also on seeds of various kinds. 



Its eggs, of which I have a series from Valkensvaard, in Holland, are undistinguishable from 

 those of C. suecica, and, like those, vary considerably in shade of coloration ; but most of the 

 eggs I have seen, which have been obtained in Holland, were, if any thing, to some slight extent 

 darker, and are in colour more like those of the Nightingale than eggs of Cyanecula suecica 

 obtained in Scandinavia. 



I have carefully examined what specimens I have been able to procure of Cyanecula wolfi, 

 especially the form having the blue throat without any central spot, and am unable to find any 

 specific difference between it and the ordinary white-spotted bird. Even those which have the 

 throat at the first glance pure unspotted blue, have, on closer examination, the base of at least 

 one or two feathers white. I have before me examples with the central white spot very clearly 

 developed and large, others with it smaller; and in fact there is a perfect gradation between 

 those with a large spot and those having the blue uniform and unspotted. Professor Newton 

 (Yarr. Brit. B. p. 324) looks upon the unspotted bird as being distinct from the present species, 

 and states that it has the tarsus smaller, measuring 0-95 to 1 inch; whereas in the white-spotted 



