86 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



and the green of the scapulars ; four buff stripes on back. Under parts dull 

 white, streaked with brown. 



The bird breeds in Lapland, Finland, and Russia, and arrives in England 

 from October till April. It feeds on beetles, snails, seeds when necessary, 

 as well as on the worms and grubs it obtains from beneath the surface of the 

 ground in the marshy or coastal districts which it haunts. It is a solitary 

 bird, and when disturbed flies up without uttering the " Scape-scape," so 

 marked a feature of the Common Snipe. 



Sparrow, Hedge (DUNNOCK is a common local name). This bird is one 

 of the commonest visitors to any garden, and one of the most charming, 



Snipe drumming. 



having quiet, unobtrusive ways of appearing at the bird table, or amongst 

 the poultry, and slipping in and out among the flowers and bushes like a 

 mouse. His " piping-plaintive " call-note may be heard, like his sweet, 

 joyous little song, all the year round. This is a bird of true British race ; for 

 though there is a continental variety, lighter in colour and with a finer bill, 

 that visits the East Coast in the winter, our own bird is nowhere found but 

 in the British Isles. 



It is a " pretty " bird, daintily made, a great contrast to the House Spar- 

 row, with whom it has no connection save in name. It is distinguished by 

 its head of soft grey, its thin, delicate beak, and " mouse-like " carriage when 

 on the ground searching for food. It feeds on insects, spiders, etc. ; though 

 in winter time, like the Wren, it appears to find specks of food invisible to 

 the other birds. I have had it in captivity with my " domesticated " birds 



