78 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
building a nest in my aviary I hope to be able to 
ascertain this for certain during the summer.* The 
old birds appear to pick up a very good living on 
sopped bread and small seeds, such as canary and 
rape seed: the seeds also of docks and sorrel they 
appear to be fond of, as are many other of our small 
birds, thereby rendering a considerable service to 
the farmer and gardener. 
The nest is usually placed in some low bush or on 
the side of a hedge: it is made of dry sticks, hay, 
grass-roots, moss and wool, and lined with hair. 
I once knew a pair of these birds repair an old 
Thrush’s nest of the year before, and rear their 
brood in it. 
The beak of the Hedgesparrow is dark horn- 
colour; the irides hazel; head, nape of the neck 
and all the rest of the upper parts are burnt umber- 
brown, the centre of each feather very dark brown, 
almost black; sides of the neck, throat and breast 
dull slate-blue; ear-coverts brown; belly and under 
tail-coverts almost white; flanks and thighs brown ; 
primary and secondary quills dusky, very slightly 
edged with brown; tail dusky brown, feathers edged 
with lighter brown, under surface greyish brown ; 
legs and toes orange-brown; claws black. 
The young before the first moult differ slightly, 
the throat being greyish white, varied with small 
* ‘The eggs have unfortunately since been destroyed. 
