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. 

 (353.) " The hedge-sparrow, or shuffle-wing {Mota- 

 cilla modidaris 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 

 eggs 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 dweUing in the village. As an example of a 

 household or domestic bird, none can be found with 



