156 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



rather curved downwards, and has the side feathers a little 

 bent outwards. The legs and toes are of a dark o rangy- 

 brown ; the claws are black, and the hind one is con- 

 siderably the largest. 



The female is a trifle smaller than the male, but re- 

 sembles the male in her plumage, except that it is duller, 

 the spots are larger, and the lower part of the back is 

 more olive-coloured; but the sexes are very difficult to dis- 

 tinguish. 



Varieties of the Hedge-sparrow are occasionally met 

 with pure white, and some in which the markings exhibit 

 considerable variations. 



As already hinted, this bird is very frequently selected 

 by the Cuckoo as a foster-parent for its youngJ X 



