ACCENTOR MODULARIS. 343 



fact that I knew the nest with five eggs, then found it with only 

 one young bird as described, for I took note at the time, 35 

 years ago, when I was just learning my Ornithology direct from 

 the book of Nature. The nest was one of the deepest of its 

 kind I ever got — i\ by 3 \ inches outside, 2 \ by 1| deep 

 inside, formed of moss and fine boxwood roots, thickly lined 

 with long hairs and fine feathers. Although called the hedge- 

 sparrow, it has no connection with the house-sparrow, though 

 about the same size and colour, for no two birds are more 

 dissimilar in habits. The one belongs to the soft-billed or 

 insect feeders, the other to the hard-billed seed huskers. The 

 one sings a sweet low song — even in winter ; the other merely 

 yelps or chirrups. At all seasons the hedge-sparrow flits and 

 creeps about with the stealthy movements of the reedlings, 

 always — like modesty — trying to escape observation, except 

 during the courting season — a time which affects all creation. 

 They then chant their little song with such a restless fluttering, 

 beating time with its wings, jerking them up and down — like 

 the starling when so engaged — as to deserve the name of 

 " shuffle-wing." Their wings are hardly ever still — a habit 

 patent to all naturalists. They seldom perch high, and run 

 more than hop, in this coming nearer to the next genus — the 

 wagtails, the true runners. They are not gregarious, even in 

 winter you seldom see more than two or three together, and the 

 plainness of their dress makes them less noticed. It is a 

 peaceable bird, never quarrelling or mingling with others — in 

 this respect a pattern to humanity, including kings and clowns. 

 They do no harm in gardens, but help to clear them of 

 caterpillars and insects. They also feed on seeds, and use 

 quartz and other minerals seldom found in the gizzards of the 

 Sylvue. In this it resembles the lark, also in its more slender 

 bill and plainness of colour, but is handsomely formed, which is 

 better than gaudy dress. The general colour is brown, with 

 darker spots ; under parts, grey and browm ; iris, also brown. 

 Length, 6£ by 8f inches in extent of wings ; female similar, 

 only a little less. There is another species called the Alpine 

 accentor, but as I never saw it here I need not describe it 

 further than it is like the last but larger, breeds in the holes 

 and ledges of rocks, and also lays five greenish-blue eggs. The 

 next sub-family is that of Motacilla, the wagtails, which forms 

 the fifth group of the Sylviadce, which includes the pipits. 



