THE HEDGE-SPARROW. 



(Jan. 19, 1889.) 



THE hedge-sparrow, or dunnock, is not only one 

 of the most familiar, but also one of the most 

 harmless, of British birds. As Bewick remarks, 

 " it has no other relation to the sparrow than in 

 the dinginess of its colours ; in every other respect 

 it differs entirely." Indeed, it belongs to the genus 

 Accentor, of which it is the only resident British 

 representative, its cousin, the Alpine accentor, 

 being only an occasional visitor to this country. 

 Its slight resemblance in plumage to the sparrow 

 was doubtless the cause of the name "hedge- 

 sparrow," by which it is most commonly known ; 

 an unfortunate name, which has, without doubt, 

 caused the destruction of thousands of its species, 

 as many persons think that, as it is called a 

 sparrow, it must be mischievous. Attempts have 

 from time to time been made by different writers 

 to change this name hedge-accentor, hedge- 

 chanter, and hedge-warbler being among the new 

 names suggested but always without success ; 

 for hedge-sparrow it was, as we know, in Shak- 

 speare's time, and hedge-sparrow it will remain 

 at all events in those parts where it is not 



