258 ACCENTOR MODULARIS. 



with horse and cow hair, intermixed with a large quantity of 

 the fur of the hare. The eggs, five or six in number, are of 

 a fine greenish-blue colour, and have an oval rather pointed 

 form, with a glossy surface ; their longitudinal diameter varying 

 from nine to ten twelfths, the transverse from six and a half to 

 seven twelfths. There are generally two broods in the season, 



Mr Neville Wood remarks, that " none of our smaller 

 British Birds (the Field Thrush excepted) will build in a tree 

 or bush which already contains a nest, whether that nest be 

 deserted or not." I have seen however in a honeysuckle bower 

 three nests of small birds, namely the Thrush, the Green Lin- 

 net, and the Hedge Chanter ; and Sparrows sometimes build 

 among Rooks'' nests. That successful observer of the habits 

 of birds has given a very detailed and most accurate account 

 of those of the present species, which I therefore beg leave to 

 recommend to notice ; but from which I must refrain from 

 making extracts, being anxious to relate as little as possible of 

 the observations of others. 



This bird is liable to a singular disease, consisting of tuber- 

 cular and apparently carcinomatous excrescences upon the eye- 

 lids and about the base of the bill. I have several times shot 

 individuals thus affected, but am unable to say whether the 

 complaint ever proves fatal. Indeed it is very seldom that 

 one falls in with small birds that have died, from whatever 

 cause, and the reason probably is that they are soon picked 

 up by rapacious quadrupeds and birds. 



The Hedge Chanter is resident throughout the year, and 

 generally distributed. Even in the bare islands of the north 

 of Scotland, where there are no hedges, and scarcely a shrub 

 four feet high, it is here and there met with in the vicinity of 

 houses, where it builds in holes of walls, wood piles, and 

 similar places. Being extremely hardy, it does not perform 

 partial migrations, but remains in its native district, merely 

 drawing nearer to the habitations of man in winter, and oc- 

 casionally tending to enliven the dull season by its pleasant 

 song. It seems from the following note of my friend Mr 

 Weir, that it also claims a place among the nocturnal songsters. 

 " In a holly hedge about thirty yards from my bedroom win- 



