94 HEDGE-SPARROW. 



generally distributed in summer down to the northern districts of 

 Spain, and Mr. Tait found it nesting in the valley of the Douro, in 

 Portugal ; but in Southern Spain its familiar eggs have not yet been 

 seen. In the latter country, and, in fact, along the northern shores 

 of the Mediterranean, it is a winter-visitor ; wandering to the islands 

 and to Algeria; Canon Tristram say.s that it is resident in the 

 Lebanon ; and Von Heuglin found it in winter in Arabia Petrcea. 

 Its south-eastern breeding limit appears to be the Caucasus. 



The nest is seldom placed far from the ground, and is generally 

 in hedge-rows and in tangled bushes, or among heaps of dry 

 sticks ] less frequently in ivy. In a wet cave on Ailsa Craig the late 

 R. Gray found one placed on a ledge of rock, at the root of some 

 hart's-tongue fern. Roots and green moss, with hair and wool for 

 the lining, are the materials employed ; and the 4-6 blue eggs, 

 measuring about 78 by '56 in., may frequently be found early in 

 March ; two. and sometimes three broods being reared in the season. 

 An old and popular belief, alluded to by Chaucer, and, long after, 

 by Shakespeare, is that the Hedge- Sparrow is usually selected by 

 the Cuckoo as a foster-parent for its young ; while the observations 

 of Jenner and others on the behaviour of nestling Cuckoos, have 

 tended to strengthen the idea, for, owing to the situations adopted, 

 the nests of the Hedge-Sparrow are easily found and watched ; yet 

 it may be doubted whether the nests of the Meadow-Pipit and Pied 

 Wagtail are not greater favourites. The food consists of spiders, 

 small beetles and other insects, worms, seeds, and, in severe weather, 

 any crumbs and sweepings obtainable in the neighbourhood of 

 habitations. The short song of the Hedge-Sparrow is commenced, 

 even in our islands, as early as February, and in the south of 

 Europe it may be heard all through the winter. 



The adult male has the head and nape slate-grey, streaked with 

 brown ; ear-coverts brown ; back and wings rufous-brown, with 

 umber streaks ; the lower wing-coverts with buffish-white tips, which 

 form a narrow but distinct bar ; quills and tail dusky brown ; 

 chin, throat and upper breast slate-grey ; belly dull white ; sides 

 and flanks pale reddish-brown, with dark streaks ; bill brown, lighter 

 at the base; legs and feet yellowish-brown. Length, 5*5 in.; wing 

 to the tips of 3rd-5th and longest primaries 275 in. The female 

 is somewhat less in size and duller in colour, and the streaks about 

 the head, neck and shoulders are smaller and more numerous. The 

 young have no slate-grey on the head and throat, and are browner 

 and more spotted than the adults. 



