130 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



In Great Britain, excepting in the more exposed northern islands, it is 

 generally distributed and abundant. 



The popular name of this common bird being objected to by many writers, as 

 being likely to mislead the ignorant, the names of " Hedge- Accentor," " Shuffle- 

 wing," " Dunnock," " Dykie," " Molly," and " Smokie " have been used in preference 

 (the majority being local appellations) ; but, when one considers that the term 

 Sparrow has been applied to numerous other members of the Order Passeres, such 

 as Serins of the genus Sycalis, Grass-finches of the genus Steganopleura and Manni- 

 kins of the genus Munia, it becomes an act of pedantry to reject a name which 

 is generally understood. 



The Hedge- Sparrow is one of those familiar birds which will never desert 

 us, for it is just as happy in gardens, orchards, groves, shrubberies, plantations, 

 and hedges, as in the dense undergrowth of copses and woods. In the winter, 

 like the Robin, it seeks the habitations of man, and takes advantage of the refuse 

 food flung out for its sooty and more vulgar namesake : it is one of the first 

 songsters heard in suburban gardens, and helps to enliven the wet dreariness of 

 February. The song itself is not very remarkable for execution, but is bright 

 and clear, somewhat jiggy, if one may use such an expression, less plaintive and 

 varied than that of the Robin, and not so musical as that of the Wren : it consists 

 of very few notes ; but these are made the most of, so that the effect is decidedly 

 pleasing : also in mild winters it may be heard at times when most other birds 

 are silent. 



Like the Chaffinch, the Hedge- Sparrow both runs and hops ; on the ground 

 it almost invariably runs with its head depressed as if constantly on the look out 

 for food, and when it catches sight of a spider or a seed it hops forwards, shuffling 

 its wings with a curious rapid action characteristic of its Subfamily. When passing 

 down a garden path this bird generally keeps close to the border, dodging now and 

 again under a shrub with a business-like action which almost reminds one of a 

 mouse : it is rarely seen in lofty trees, but seems rather to prefer shrubs and 

 hedges, amongst which it drops from branch to branch, peering about like a Tit 

 for insect food. 



The nest of the Hedge- Sparrow has more frequently been represented by artists 

 than that of any other species, and yet the form selected for illustration is one 

 which many a zealous birdsnester has never met with a perfect cup of very fine 

 bents, root-fibre, and moss, thickly lined with black horse-hair, a little fibre, and 

 one or two soft fluffy feathers : one nest of this character I found on May ist, 

 1884, and it is the only one of its kind I have ever seen. The nest is always 

 warm and cosy in appearance, rather deep, the outer walls being generally enclosed 



