BIRDS OF THE GARDEN 23 



(hence Pied). Upper parts, scapulars, chin, and throat 

 black ; sides of neck and forehead white. Wing -coverts 

 edged with white, conspicuous in flight. Tail black, 

 two outer feathers white, conspicuous in flight. Belly 

 white. Bill and legs black. Length j\ in. Female 

 rather greyer above ; in autumn both sexes lose the 

 black throat and chin. Young, white areas washed with 

 yellow. 



Language. Song seldom heard, but is loud and hurried, 

 often uttered on the wing ; not unlike the Swallow's 

 warble. Call-note, a sharp " chizzic " ; it also utters a 

 shrill kind of whistle. 



Habits. Though not so quick and graceful as the 

 Grey and Yellow Wagtails, it is most engaging with its 

 see-sawing tail-waggings and its aerial evolutions when 

 insect-hunting ; always conspicuous. Flight undulating. 

 It walks sedately, with bobbing head, or runs very nimbly 

 and quickly. Fond of bathing (hence Dishwasher). 

 Much more confiding than the other Wagtails. 



Food. Chiefly insects and their larvae, spiders, and 

 seeds. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In holes in banks, walls, or roof of open shed, 

 and many other similar situations. 



Materials. Dry grass, roots, bents, lined with wool, 

 hair, and feathers. Nest rather large and shallow. 



Eggs. Four to six. White or greyish white, speckled 

 with grey and dark brown, like one variety of House 

 Sparrow. 



HEDGE SPARROW OR ACCENTOR 



(Accentor modularis). 



Abundant everywhere, except towards the extreme 

 North. 



Haunts. Gardens, orchards, copses, shrubberies, 

 hedgerows, &c. 



Plumage. Head smoke-grey, streaked with dark 



