CHATS, ROBINS AND WARBLERS 35 



much the same thing in 1910, about the same 

 date. The bird that year chose as his special 

 platform the lower branches of a sycamore, 

 and would every now and then fly off into the 

 air singing all the while at the very top of 

 his voice, and then return to the tree to sing 

 again. 



Hedgesparrows are common enough all 

 the year round, and are great favourites of 

 mine. They are elegant birds in their 

 modest way, they are unobtrusive and useful, 

 and their song, if not brilliant, is pleasant, 

 and like that of the wren and the robin, it 

 helps to cheer the dull winter months when 

 the more famous warblers are away enjoying 

 the warmth of some sunny southern country. 



There is no month in the year in which at 

 one time or another I have not heard the 

 hedge-sparrow's song, but March is the time 

 of all others to hear it, then it seems impos- 

 sible to get away from it at any hour of the 

 day. 



Hedgesparrows creep about in a mouse- 

 like fashion peculiar to themselves, with a 

 series of little running jumps, and the con- 

 tinual shuffling or flipping movement of their 

 wings is very noticeable. 



They will take their share of the fowls' 

 food with other birds, and will come all 

 round the food-stand and pick up the 

 minutest morsels of something on the ground, 

 but (except in the case of a bird in the cold 



