SEDGE-SPARROW 86 



English tongue promises to last a long time, it seems safest to retain 

 the old and, in one sense, incorrect name. Dunnock is another 

 common name for this species ; it is also called shufflewing, from 

 the habit the bird has, when perched, of frequently shaking its wings. 



Among our small birds, the hedge-sparrow is regarded with some 

 slight degree of that kindly feeling, or favouritism, which is extended 

 to the robin redbreast, the swallow, and the martin. It is one of 

 the few delicate little birds that brave the rigours of an English 

 whiter, and occasionally enliven that dead season with their melody. 

 With the wren and missel-thrush, it is a prophet, in February, of 

 the return of brighter sunshine and lengthening days ; and in hard 

 weather it comes much about the house, for the sake of the small 

 morsels of food to be picked up ; and, while retaining its sprightliness 

 at such times, it learns to be trustful. It is possible that the feeling 

 or sentiment which no person, not even the most matter-of-fact 

 scientific ornithologist, is quite proof against, is the cause of this 

 species having been a little overpraised in many books about birds. 

 The hedge-sparrow is often spoken of as a very charming little 

 creature, while its song has been described as pleasing, as sweet, 

 and as delightful. All birds are in a sense attractive, and even 

 charming in appearance, but in different degrees, and the plain- 

 coloured dunnock strikes one as being the least attractive among 

 our birds. In the same way, the song may be said to be pleasant 

 because it is a natural sound, and is heard in the open air when the 

 sun shines, when leaves and blossoms are out, and it expresses the 

 gladness which is common to all sentient things. But it has none 

 of the rare qualities which are requisite to make a pleasant sound 

 anything more than a merely pleasant sound. 



The hedge-sparrow is a common bird throughout the British 

 Islands so common as to be familiar to most people, in spite of its 

 shyness and love of concealment. It is pre-eminently a hedge-bird, 

 and in that respect has been well named; even in the most populous 

 districts, and in the suburbs of large towns, where a hedge remains, 

 there the smoke-grey and brown little bird will have its home and 

 make its nest, although it may seldom be able to rear its young. It 

 is a very early breeder, a first brood being often reared in March. 

 As a rule, the nest is placed in the centre of a hedge or thorny bush, 

 three or four feet from the ground; it is made of dry grass and 

 fine roots, and lined with hair ; the eggs are five or six in number, 

 bright greenish blue in colour, without spots. Two or three broods 

 are reared in the season. 



