BLUE-THROATED WARBLER.

Phoenicura Suecica, Jardine & Selby.

Le Bec-fin gorge bleue.

?

Tue scientific authors of ‘ Illustrations in Ornithology ” were induced to separate several species of Warblers
from the very extensive genus Sy/via of Latham, on account of their general resemblance to our well-known
Redstart. The term Phenicura was applied to them as a generic distinction, and several reasons have induced
us to adopt the genus, and consider the Blue-throated Warbler as belonging to this new subdivision. The
species of this small group appear to be intermediate in their nature between those belonging to the genera
Sawicola and Curruca. Like the Wheatear, the Blue-throated Warbler is considered a delicate article of food,
and in the vicinity of Alsace numbers are captured for the use of the table; in its habits, in the situation often
chosen for its nest, and the colour of its eggs, it exhibits a general resemblance to the Redstart.

The Blue-throated Warbler, somewhat resembling our well-known Robin in its form, is found thinly
scattered over the countries of Europe, from Sweden to the Mediterranean, but is most plentiful in the central
parts of the Continent. Throughout Germany and the Northern territories it is a migratory bird, like many
others of the Warblers, appearing in April, and departing in September. On their arrival they frequent thick
hedges, small woods and the borders of forests, building their nests in holes of trees, sometimes in cavities
between stones near water, or on the banks of rivulets among roots which the action of the stream has laid
bare. The nest is formed of dried bents and moss, with a few dead leaves, and lined with various sorts of hair.
The female lays five or six eggs of a delicate pale greenish blue ; the male is remarkable for his attention to
his mate, and has an agreeable song, which is sometimes heard in the night.

The length of an adult bird is nearly six inches; the top of the head, all the upper parts of the body and
wings are uniform clove brown; the beak black; over the eye a pale streak ; throat and fore-part of the neck
ultramarine blue, with a well-defined spot of pure white in the centre ; beneath the blue colour is a black
bar, then a narrow line of white, and still lower a broad band of bright chestnut ; belly dirty white, flanks
and under tail-coverts light reddish brown; the two middle tail-feathers clove brown, throughout their whole
length, all the others on both sides have the basal half bright chestnut, the other half black ; legs and claws
brown. The female resembles the male in the uniform colour of the upper parts; the white patch on the
throat, descending from the beak, occupies a much larger space ; the blue colour on the sides of the neck is
mixed with black ; the successive bars of blue, black, white and chestnut towards the bottom of the neck in
front are much less perfectly defined ; and the belly and flanks more inclined to brown.

The Blue-throated Warbler is rather a rare bird both in the western parts of France and in Holland, still
more rare in this country, only one instance of its occurrence being on record. This specimen was shot in
May 1826, by Mr. T. Embleton, on the boundary hedge of the Newcastle Town Moor, and by him presented
to the Museum of the Literary and Philosophical Society. The first notice of the capture of this interesting
addition to our Fauna appeared in a Synopsis of the Newcastle Museum, by G. T. Fox, Esq., of Durham,
(pages 298 and 300). This bird was considered a young male, and was probably obtained soon after its
arrival.

We have figured a male and female of the natural size.