ACCENTORIN/E. 



THE HEDGE-SPARROW. 



Accentor nodularis (Linnoaus). 



The Hedge-Sparrow is resident and generally distributed through- 

 out the British Islands : the exceptions being the bleakest of the 

 Outer Hebrides and the Shetlands, for in the Orkneys it has bred 

 since 1887, and is increasing. In Sutherland and Caithness it is 

 extending its range wherever plantations are springing up ; while in 

 winter it comes nearer to houses, where a more plentiful supply of 

 food is attainable. On the east coast it is a regular migrant, 

 extraordinary numbers sometimes arriving on the coast of Lincoln- 

 shire and Yorkshire in September and October ; while return parties 

 have been noticed in spring. The Hedge-Sparrow is known by a 

 variety of names, such as ' Dunnock,' 'Dykie,' 'Smokie,' and 

 ' Shuffle-wing ' (the last from its peculiar action). Chaucer called 

 it ' Haysogge,' and to this day it is known in Surrey as ' Isaac ' ; 

 while some well-meaning writers name it the Hedge-Accentor, to 

 show that it is no relative of the obnoxious House-Sparrow. 



In Norway the Hedge-Sparrow breeds as far north as the limit of 

 forest growth, and eastward it occurs sparingly up to 60° N. lat. in 

 the Ural Mountains ; but from the greater part of these northern 

 regions it migrates southwards in autumn ; large numbers passing 

 by Heligoland. Throughout Europe, south of the Baltic, it is 



