144 TREATISE ON 



mon, and so well known, that we need give no 

 description of it. The young- are spotted, hop 

 about, and chirp so like young redbreasts, that it 

 is not easy, in that early state, to distinguish the 

 young of the hedge-sparrow from those of the 

 redbreast. 



The winter fauvette is seldom found in wild 

 districts, but seems to prefer nestling near the ha- 

 bitations of men. It may be seen both in winter and 

 summer about the roots of hedges, (from whence 

 it derives its common name,) and among bushes 

 in gardens and fields. In summer it feeds on in- 

 sects ; and in winter comes near our doors, to pick 

 up crums of bread, seed, &c. It builds early in 

 spring, commonly in hedges or low bushes ; the 

 nest is made of moss and wool, well lined with 

 horse-hail*. The eggs, from four to five in num- 

 ber, are of a clear, beautiful blue colour, of a tint 

 between pale verditer blue and verdigris green. 

 It is in the nest of this bird that the female 

 cuckoo drops her egg, which the hedge-sparrow 

 batches, and also brings up the young cuckoo, 

 which last, by a singular process, throws out the 

 eggs and young of the hedge-sparrow, and takes 

 possession of the nest ; and it is curious and amu- 

 sing to see the young cuckoo following so diminu- 



