Hedge Accentor. 



39. HEDGE ACCENTOR (Accentor modularis). 



Well known to everyone as the Hedge Sparrow, though the 

 name is most unfortunate, causing it to be confused in the minds 

 of many with the House Sparrow, with which it has not the 

 smallest affinity, the latter being bold, hard-billed, and grain- 

 loving, while the Hedge Accentor or Hedge Warbler is meek, soft- 

 billed, and insect-eating. In Worcestershire it bears the pro- 

 vincial name of 'Blue Isaac/* which at first sight seems unintelli- 

 gible enough ; but * Isaac ' as was pointed out by a clever 

 reviewer in the Guardian^ is simply the modern pronunciation 

 of the Anglo-Saxon hege sugge (Chaucer's heisugge), meaning 

 'Hedge Sucker,' in obvious allusion to the habits of the bird. 

 ' Hedge Betty/ another provincial name in use in the same 

 county, is evidently later, and admirably expresses its dull and 

 somewhat lustreless plumage. In Somersetshire it is known as 

 ' Blind Dunnock/J The scientific names bestowed on this species 

 have sole reference to its singing powers, for the meaning of 

 Accentor is given by the B.O.U. Committee, 'one who sings with 

 another;' and Modalaris ' one that sings in a measured manner;' 

 from modulus, ' a measure/ or < melody.' On the Continent its 

 sombre hue and retiring habits are more recognised in the names 

 it bears, as in France, Le MoucJtet, ' the spotted one ;' Train e 

 b'Uisson, ' hedge-frequenter ;' Faiivette de bois, Fauvette d'hiver, 

 and Roussette, ( reddish one.' In Germany, Schiefer Brastiger 

 Sanger, ' warbler with slate- coloured breast. 1 In Portugal, 

 Negrinha, ' little negress/ and Pretinha, 'blackish.' The English 

 word ' Sparrow/ Swedish Sparf, German Sperling, and similar 

 words in other languages, are all (says Professor Skeat) from the 

 Teutonic Sparwa, ' a Sparrow/ literally a ' flutterer/ from Spar, 

 'to quiver/ hence to 'flutter/ Unlike most of this family, the 

 Hedge Warbler remains with us throughout the winter, and 



* ' The Nation in the Parish,' by Rev. E, Lawson. See Glossary. 



t Jan. 21st, 1885. 



J ' Birds of Somerset/ by Mr. Cecil Smith, p. 77. 



