3 2 



" In the breeding-season the males are, as a rule, any thing but shy ; they perch upon the 

 tallest willows and sing their ever changing song, variations being constantly introduced. The 

 azure throat, invariably with a centre spot of bay (only this form is known in Norway), renders it 

 a highly conspicuous bird, easily recognized at a distance. Of both sexes the alarm-note is very 

 similar to that of Saxicola. The 10th June, 1872, I found on the Dovre several nests, some of 

 which contained incubated eggs ; all of the nests were underneath willow bushes, and were 

 constructed exclusively of the finest grass." 



Professor Sundevall (Svensk. Fogl. p. 60) records it as common in summer in Northern 

 Sweden, and occasionally (as, for instance, in Bohuslan in June 1849, and on Oland in June 1847) 

 in Southern Sweden. During the autumn migration it has been observed in various parts of the 

 country. Wheelwright found it rare near Quickjock, and did not notice any until early in June. 

 In Finland it is, Von Wright writes (Finl. Fogl. p. 125), observed only during migration. 

 Mr. J. von Wright and also Mr. Magnus von Wright observed it in Rautalampi and Pielis 

 parishes. I shot a specimen near Uleaborg in May ; and several adult birds were sent to me 

 from Rovaniemi by Mr. Heikel, who informed me that it was common near the town of 

 Rovaniemi and in Rovaniemi-Lapland. Mr. Meves found it common near Onega, in Northern 

 Russia ; and I have several specimens from Mezen and other parts of the Government of Arch- 

 angel. Mr. L. Sabanaeff writes to me that it is common throughout Russia, and that he met 

 with it everywhere in the Ural. That it breeds in the South-eastern Ural is certain, as 

 Mr. Meves sent me a nestling from there. Mr. Jacovleff writes that it occurs at Sarepta during 

 migration, but he never observed it near Astrachan. Throughout Germany the present species 

 is found during the two seasons of migi - ation, but does not appear ever to remain there to breed. 

 Xaumann (Vog. Deutschl. xiii. p. 396) says that it is during migration commoner on Heligoland 

 than in any part of Germany, where it only occurs sparingly, and but very rarely, on the shores 

 of the rivers, as, for instance, in Thuringia, near Dresden, Vienna, and elsewhere, but is not seen 

 every year. Dr. A. Fritsch writes (J. f. O. 1871, p. 198) that it occurs in Bohemia during the 

 two seasons of migration, and is seen in the spring in the month of April. In the autumn it is 

 found frequenting the potatoe-fields. Mr. Fischer says that it has never been known to breed in 

 Denmark, and some seasons none are even seen during migration. Lieut. Fencker shot a male 

 in 1867, in the spring. Mr. C. F. Dubois states (J. f. O. 1860, p. 228) that the present species 

 breeds in the neighbourhood of Liege and Louvain ; but I must confess that I should like to see 

 specimens obtained there during the breeding-season, in order to convince myself that it really is 

 C. suecica. The present species does not appear to occur in France or on the Iberian peninsula ; 

 but Bailly states that a few occur during migration in Savoy, and Salvadori writes that both this 

 and the white-spotted species have been observed in Italy on passage. 



In Greece the present or red-spotted species occurs, and Count von der Miihle (Orn. 

 Griechenl. p. 74) speaks of it as common in the autumn during migration. All found there, he 

 states, are the true C. suecica, having a red and not a white spot on the throat. Lord Lilford 

 mentions (Ibis, 1860, p. 228) his having seen a Bluethroat in the Val di Roppa, in Corfu, which 

 probably was this species. 



It occurs in Southern Russia during migration ; and Professor von Nordmann states that it 

 is common amongst the vineyards of the Crimea, especially about Simpheropol, Kara-sou-Bazar, 



