BLUE-BREAST, one of the English names for this pretty bird, Which, as Bechstein observes, may be considered as the link betweou the Redstart and Common Wagtail, having strong points of resem blance to both. It is also called Blue-Throated Robin and Blue-Throated Redstart. It is the Gorge-Bleue of the French, the Blankehlein of the Germans, Pettis Turchine of the Italians, the Cyanecula of Brisson, Motacilla Suecica of Linnteus, Sylria cyanecula of Meyer, the Blue Throated Warbler and Sylria Suecica of Latham, Phanicena Suecica of Gould, Ficcdula Suecira of Elton.
Like our red-breast this harbinger of spring to the Americans " is known to almost every child, and shows," says Wilson, " as much confidence in man by associating with him in summer, as the other by his familiarity in winter.
" So early as the middle of February, if the weather be open, he usually makes his appearance about his old haunts, the barn, orchard, and fence-posts. Storms and deep snows sometimes succeeding, he disappears for a time ; but about the middle of March is again seen accomusnied by his mate visiting the box in the garden or the hole in the obr apple-tree, the cradle of scone generations of his ancestors." . . . . " When he first begins his amours," says a curious and correct observer, " it is pleasing to behold his courtship, his solicitude to please and to secure the favour of his beloved female. He uses the tenderest expressions, sits close by her, caresses and sings to her his most endearing warbliugs. When seated together if he copies an insect delicious to her taste ho takes it up, flies with it to her, spreads his wing over her, and puts it in her mouth." The food of the Blue-Bird consists principally of insects, particularly According to Temminek the Blue-Breast is found in the same coun tries which are inhabited by the Red-Breast, and particularly on the borders of forests, but is more rare in France and 1101and than the latter bird. Bonaparte note, it as accidental and very rare in the neighbourhood of Rome, and as only appearing in severe winters. In England it is very rarely seen. Yerrell in his ' British Birds' records four instances of its having been shot in England.
The food of the Blue-Breast, according to Temininek, consists of flies, the larvie of insects, and worms. Bechstein says that it also eats elder-berries. It is one of those unfortunate birds which is called by some a ]leccafico. The nest is said to he built in bushes and in the holes of trees. The eggs, of a greenish-blue, are six in number.
The following is Ileelistein's accurate description of the male : " Its length is 56 inches, of which the tail occupies 21 inches. The beak is sharp and blackish, yellow at the angles; the iris is brown ; the shanks are 14 lines high, of a reddish-brown, and the toes blackish; the head, the back, and the wing-coverts are ashy-brown, mottled with a darker tint ; a reddish-white line passes above the eyes ; the checks are dark-brown, spotted with rust-red and edged at the side with deep ash-gray ; a brilliaut sky-blue covers the throat and half-way down the breast; this is set off by a spot of the most dazzling white, the size of a pea, placed precisely over the larynx, which enlarging and diminish ing successively by the movement of this part when the bird sings produces the most beautiful effect. The blue passes into a black band, and the latter into a fine orange; the belly is dusky-white, yellowish towards the vent ; the thighs and sides are reddish ; the quill-feathers dark-brown; the tail-feathers red at the base, and half the summit black ; the two intermediate ones are entirely dark-brown. . Some males have two little white spots on the throat, some even have three while others have none ; these latter are probably very old, for I have observed that as the bird grows older the blue deepens and the orange band becomes almost maroon." The female. resembles the male in the upper parts. On each side of the neck is a blackish longitudinal streak passing on the upper parts of the breast into a large blackish space tinged with ash-colour. On the middle of the neck is a great spot of pure white. Flanks clouded with olive, the rest of the lower parts white. The very old females have the throat sometimes of a very bright blue. This is probably a sign that they have done laying, and are putting on the plumage of the male. Bechstein says that the females when young are of a celestial blue tint on the sides of the throat, which deepens with age and forms the two longitudinal lines.
The young, according to Temminck, are brown. spotted with white, and have all a large white space upon the throat. " Its song," says Bechstein, "is very agreeable ; it sounds like two voices at once; one deep, resembling the gentle humming of a violin string, the other the soft sound of a flute."