The Hedge Sparrow — The Stonechat. 315 



The food of the Hedge Sparrow, as it is more frequently called, consists of insects in 

 their various stages of development, worms, and seeds, such as grasses and grains. These 

 birds do not all migrate, and in hard weather will visit the towns and farm-yards, frequenting 

 gutters and sinks, where they pick up crumbs and other morsels from amongst the sweepings ; 

 but in the milder weather they depend principally upon the larvae of insects and worms, 

 which latter may then be always seen stirring in the early morning or in the evening. 



The length of the bird is about five and a half inches ; its plumage is rather unpre- 

 tending, the whole of the upper part, including the wings and tail, are chestnut-brown, the 

 back being speckled with black, whilst the head and neck are shaded with bluish-grey ; the 

 under part is grey, slightly tinged with brown, and speckled on the breast and sides with 

 chestnut-brown. 



This bird may be kept in almost any cage, and will thrive in an aviary, although at times 

 it proves unsociable. We possess one that had a most desperate encounter with a Robin which 

 was kept in the same aviary. The Robin would undoubtedly have killed him had they not 

 been parted. He still retains evidence of the severity of the conflict, inasmuch as the feathers 

 upon the top of his head are raised like a crest, which gives him a ludicrously important 

 appearance. They have always lived harmoniously since then, but the Hedge Sparrow in- 

 variably gives way to his pugnacious companion. 



The Hedge Accentor should be fed on canary-seed, hemp-seed, and dry coarse oatmeal, 

 varied with bread-crumbs and German paste ; an occasional mealworm will help to keep him 

 in good plumage and song. A small garden-worm, spider, or other insect will be a treat 

 that may be given whenever available, and will afford him great enjoyment. 



The Stonechat is a frequenter of dry heaths and commons, where it may be seen 

 perched on a topmost spray of furze or brushwood uttering its peculiar call ; from thence 

 it will suddenly dart to the ground in pursuit of some insect, and just as suddenly return 

 to the spray it had quitted. It also flutters in the air at a slight elevation, and there sings 

 its pretty little song. Its length is about five and a quarter inches. The head, cheeks, and 

 throat are black, slightly shaded with brown ; the back is black, deeply edged with brown ; 

 the upper tail-coverts white, speckled with brown, and margined with a light rust-colour ; the 

 tail brown ; the wings also brown, edged with greyish-brown ; the tertials white ; the sides 

 of the neck white ; the breast rich chestnut-brown, shading lighter until it becomes almost 

 yellowish-white on the belly, vent, and under tail-coverts. The female has the whole of her 

 upper part dusky brown, edged with buff" ; chin and throat blackish-brown, spotted with white 

 and red ; the breast light chestnut-brown, and the white space on the neck and wings of 

 smaller extent than in the male. 



Being a handsome bird, the Stonechat may, if tame enough, be kept in an open cage, 

 but will always be a striking addition to the aviary. The food consists of insects and their 

 larvae, and worms, taking the former when on the wing after the manner of the Flycatchers. 

 It is a delicate bird, and if adult when taken will seldom live ; it may, however, be reared 

 from the nest if fed upon the food recommended for the young Nightingale. A young bird 

 of the season may sometimes be meated off if care and attention are bestowed. 



The song improves in confinement, and it will sing much better in a cage than when 

 placed in an aviary. The food of the adult should also be similar to that of the Nightingale ; 

 abundance of insects, such as flies, mothSj caterpillars, worms, and small beetles, will tend 

 to keep the bird in good health and plumage, and also add to its song. 



