. Egyptian birds for the most part seen in the Nile valley . at and breast brilliantcobalt-blue, with a white spot at the top of breast, a brightrufous bar edges the blue on the lower breast, this red barsometimes being separated from the blue by a thin whitestripe; under-parts white. The hen bird is a dull edition ofthe above, with a buffish-coloured throat, and more blackthan blue showing on the breast; legs, beak, and eyesbrown. Total length, 5*5 inches. This is a common bird throughout Egypt, whereit winters. It is related to our common Robin,to which it bears some resemblance; but it isra
. Egyptian birds for the most part seen in the Nile valley . at and breast brilliantcobalt-blue, with a white spot at the top of breast, a brightrufous bar edges the blue on the lower breast, this red barsometimes being separated from the blue by a thin whitestripe; under-parts white. The hen bird is a dull edition ofthe above, with a buffish-coloured throat, and more blackthan blue showing on the breast; legs, beak, and eyesbrown. Total length, 5*5 inches. This is a common bird throughout Egypt, whereit winters. It is related to our common Robin,to which it bears some resemblance; but it israther longer in shape and higher on the leg thanthe Redbreast. The Bluethroat is well named, and havingonce seen this charming little warbler, it is byits blue throat it will be remembered. The firsttime I came across this bird was long ago;but I remember, as if it were to-day, my delightwhen the little bird, which had been flitting about—now on the ground, now in the lower branchesand twigs of a bushy osier—turned so that I saw 74 BLUE-THROATED WARBLER. THE BLUE-THROATED WARBLER 75 its brilliant ultramarine-blue gorget fringed witha rust-red band. It had been for some minutesfeeding and moving about in the bush and on theground, and yet, during the whole of that time,it had never once turned right head on, and thatwhich was my first experience is, one finds, a quiteusual peculiarity. It always seems to give youa back view, and from that view you might bejustified in thinking it was a Redstart, as it hasthe same habit of flitting its tail up and down,and showing the very orange-red it was an accidental visitation I do notknow, but early in the year 1908 the gardens ofthe old Luxor Hotel were full of Bluethroats—assoon, pretty well, as you passed one you came onanother. The little water-channels running aboutthese well-kept grounds seemed to be the point ofattraction, as they were busily hopping about andsometimes into them, and splashing merrily—hardl
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidcu319240, booksubjectbirds
