HEDGE SPARROW. 67 



It is one of the earliest birds to begin preparations 

 for its nest, and eggs can generally be found by the 

 last week of March and the beginning of April. 

 Meyer mentions one found on the 21st of January. 

 The position chosen is in a thick hedge or bush or 

 in the midst of a growth of closely tangled bramble. 

 An old wall coveredj with ivy, too, is a common place 

 to find it. When built in a thorn bush, a large thorn 

 may frequently be found protruding right through 

 the bottom of the nest, which must make it very un- 

 comfortable for the sitting bird. It is a pretty nest 

 composed chiefly of moss, and lined thickly with hair, 

 wool, and feathers. It is a very favourite nest with 

 the Cuckoo in which to deposit an egg. 



The eggs, four to six, are a beautiful greenish blue 

 in colour, entirely without spots ; they are very similar 

 to the eggs of the Redstart, but perhaps a little 

 larger, and the shells are rougher and thicker. 



In confinement, Hedge Sparrows are very sociable, 

 and will even make friends with birds of other species. 

 " We possessed one," says Meyer, " which was so 

 much attached to its only companion, a male Red- 

 breast, that on the latter escaping by accident from 

 the cage, the Hedge Sparrow became dull, neglected 

 its food, and sat with ruffled feathers and appeared so 

 drooping and sad, that we thought it necessary to give 

 the poor solitary its liberty, in order to save its life." 



It is stated that the Hedge Sparrow will not un- 

 commonly pair with the Tree Sparrow, in which case 

 the male bird is the Tree, whilst the female is the 

 Hedge Sparrow. 



