394 THE DUNNOCZ. 



"Wren or Skylark, consisting of the syllables Tehudt, hudt, hudt, 

 frequently repeated, descending by a sixth every time, and 

 gradually diminishing in power. The bird moves its tail and 

 wings continually while singing, and sings throughout the 

 year, except during the moulting season. If reared from the 

 nest, it often learns to imitate the songs of other birds, and 

 intermingle them with its own, though it is never able to re- 

 peat the Nightingale's song. Like the Crested Lark and the 

 Wagtail, the Dunnock always sings during its quarrels and 

 contentions with its fellow prisoners in the aviary. 



ADDITIONAL. The Hedge- Warbler, or Hedge-Accenter, Hedge- 

 Chanter, Hedge- Sparrow, Hedge-JDunnock, and Shufflewing, are 

 the various names by which this bird is known in different loca- 

 lities of Britain and Ireland, where it is so generally distributed, 

 as to render any mention of particular counties unnecessary. It 

 has been remarked, however, that although found in the western 

 islands of Scotland, it has not been met with either in Orkney or 

 Shetland. KNAPP'S description of its habits are so fresh and 

 original, that we are induced to quote them : " The Hedge- Spar- 

 row, or Shufflewing, is a prime favourite. Not influenced by sea- 

 son or caprice to desert us, it lives in our homesteads and our 

 orchards through all the year, our most domestic bird. In the 

 earliest spring it intimates to us, by a low and plaintive chirp, 

 and that peculiar shake of the wings which in all times marks 

 this bird, but then is particularly observable, the approach of the 

 breeding season, for it appears always to live in pairs, feeding 

 and moving in company with each other. It is nearly the first 

 bird that forms a nest ; and this being placed in an almost leaf- 

 less hedge, with little art displayed in the concealment, generally 

 becomes the booty of every prying boy ; and the blue eggs of the 

 Hedge- Sparrow are always found in such numbers on His string, 

 that it is surprising how any of the race are remaining, espe- 

 cially when we consider the many casualties to which the old 

 birds are obnoxious from their tameness, and the young that are 

 hatched, from their situation. The plumage of this motacilla is 

 remarkably sober and grave, and all its actions are quiet and 

 conformable to its appearance. Its song is short, sweet, and 

 gentle. Sometimes it is prolonged, but generally the bird perches 

 on the summit of some bush, utters its brief modulation, and 

 seeks retirement again. Its chief habitation is some hedge, in 

 the rick -yard, some cottage-garden, or near society with man. 

 Unobtrusive, it does not enter our dwellings like the Redbreast, 

 but picks minute insects from the edges of drains and ditches, 

 or morsels from the door of the poorest dwelling in the villages. 



