124 A BOOK OF BIRDS 



and Marsh -warblers, by the way, there is so great a resemblance 

 that only an expert can distinguish them. 



It is a moot point as to whether the homely little Hedge-sparrow 

 (Plate XXIX. fig. 5) should be reckoned as nearly related to the 

 Thrush family or not. Here, at any rate, will be the best place to 

 mention it ; and in doing so we would particularly emphasise the 

 fact that it is in no way related to the House-sparrow, as the suffix 

 *' Sparrow " seems to imply. In their habits, even more than in their 

 appearance, no two birds could be more unlike, for the House-sparrow 

 is a veritable gamin, insolent and mischievous, while the Hedge- 

 sparrow is to be reckoned among the most modest and retiring of 

 birds. Generally distributed throughout the British Islands, a resi- 

 dent throughout the year, there can be few bird-lovers who are not 

 familiar with this species. It is an insect-eater, and is frequently 

 made the dupe of the Cuckoo, performing the work of foster-parent 

 with great zeal. The nest of this bird, seldom placed far from the 

 ground, is made of roots and moss, and lined with hair and wool. 

 Herein from four to six beautifully turquoise-blue eggs are laid. 



FAMILY MOTACILLID^ {Wagtails and Pipits) 



That the Wagtails and Pipits are closely related there can be no 

 question, though, in so far as their general coloration is concerned, 

 the two groups differ rather conspicuously ; for while the Wagtails 

 have a beautifully harmonious, but rather brightly coloured livery, 

 the Pipits, as a rule, wear but a dress of sober brown, relieved by 

 streaks of darker brown. But in both groups the legs are relatively 

 long, while the inner quill-feathers of the wing, or inner secondaries, 

 are of considerable length, so much so as to reach to the end of the 

 primaries when the wing is closed. These feathers are sometimes, 

 but quite wrongly, described as '' tertials." 



Among British Wagtails, perhaps the two most conspicuously 

 beautiful species are the Grey Wagtail (Plate XXV. fig. 7) and 

 the White Wagtail (Plate XXV. fig. 8). The Grey Wagtail is 

 a singularly handsome bird, as may be seen in our illustration, 

 and is remarkable for the great length of the tail, and this 

 among a tribe conspicuous for long tails. The black throat is 



