290 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 
« intellectual author of that charming volume “The Journal 
of a Naturalist ;” a book which should be in the hands of 
every lover of nature, no less than on the shelf of every 
philosophic zoologist. As it is important that the 
reader should have this history before him, and that, 
before proceeding to what follows, he should duly con- 
sider every part, we shall transcribe the whole passage. 
(352.) “ The hedge-sparrow, or shuffle-wing (Mota- 
cilla modularis Lin.), is a prime favourite. Not in- 
fluenced by season 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 wing which at 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 leafless hedge, 
with little art displayed in its concealment, generally 
becomes the booty of every prying boy ; and the blue 
eges of the hedge-sparrow are always found in such 
numbers on his string, that it is surprising how any of 
the race are remaining, especially 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 village. As an example of a 
household or domestic bird, none can be found with 
