THE BRITISH HEDGE-SPARROW. 491 



grey-brown crown with no dark centres to the feathers ; P. m. 

 obscura (Portugal) is very dark on upper-parts and white on belly. 

 Streaked upper -parts, slate-grey throat and breast and want of 

 white in tail distinguish the species. 



FIELD -CHARACTERS. Frequents open situations rather than wood- 

 lands ; gardens, shrubberies and hedgerows being favourite haunts. 

 Plumage without conspicuous feature : general coloration 

 ochreous-brown, broadly streaked with umber and pale legs and 

 slender bill suggest a Pipit, but build is stouter, there is no white 

 in tail, and, in adult, head, neck and fore-breast are slate-grey, 

 whilst its general demeanour is unassuming. It hops instead of 

 running, and often indulges in spasmodic jerking of the wings. 

 Song, a clear little strain, not so robust as Wren's, nor so plaintive 

 as Robin's, noticeable in winter and early spring when most birds 

 are silent. Call-note, a high-pitched piping and plaintive " peep, 

 peep." This call somewhat lengthened functions too as alarm-note. 



BREEDING-HABITS. Haunts gardens, hedgerows, shrubberies, build- 

 ing in hedges and evergreens, also in stick heaps, and occasionally 

 in ivy, on banks and in old nests of other birds (Blackbird, Thrush, 

 Swallow). Nest. Twigs in foundation, moss, bents, a few dead 

 leaves, roots, etc., lined with moss and hair or wool ; feathers 

 occasionally freely used. Eggs. Usually 4-5, occasionally 6, 

 normally rather deep blue ; very rare variety white. Average 

 size of 100 eggs, 19.9x14.7 mm. Breeding-season. Normally 

 from April onwards, but occasionally in winter months, and as 

 late as August. Two or three broods. Incubation. 12-13 days, 

 14th in incubator (W. Evans). 



FOOD. Spiders, insects ; coleoptera (Rhyncophoridae, Apion, 

 Scolytus, Helophorus, etc.), larvae of lepidoptera (Tortrix, etc.) ; 

 small worms ; and seeds of many plants (Spergula, Polygonum, 

 Atriplex, Lamium, Air a, Rumex, Ranunculus, Stellaria, Geranium, 

 Plantago), etc. 



DISTRIBUTION. Confined to British Isles. British Isles. Resident. 

 Generally distributed, but scarcer (though increasing of recent 

 years) in extreme north of Scottish mainland, scarce in Orkneys, 

 does not breed Shetlands, common Stornoway (Lewis), scarce 

 elsewhere in 0. Hebrides, but has bred Uist. 



MIGRATIONS. Great Britain. Southward movement latter half 

 Sept. with emigration from south coast, at any rate in some years, 

 early Oct. to beginning Nov. with passage through Channel Islands, 

 Well marked movement east coast (northern isles to Suffolk) 

 second week Sept. to first week Nov., though certainly that of 

 British race, very probably includes also passage-migrants of 

 Continental form. Similar movement probable, west coast, but 

 very few observations at present. Slight indications also of winter 

 weather -movements. No records of spring immigration. Passage- 



