THE HEDGE-SPARROW. ■ 157 



but also takes up its abode in the plantations about the squares, &c, 

 in towns. From a narrow skirting of shrubbery before our house in 

 Belfast, I frequently hear the song in its season, and occasionally do so 

 in bright days during winter. It has always seemed to me one of the 

 most peaceable of birds, but that it can be moved to enmity, I have 

 the testimony of a relative, who, at Fort William, near Belfast, once 

 witnessed a fight between two of them, in which one was killed. 

 The victor, after having slain his antagonist, twice or thrice uttered 

 a song of triumph, at the finale of which he each time flew at 

 and again struck his victim. A friend, who has kept this bird 

 caged, remarks : that when placed near any other species it imitates 

 its notes, and when near several, imitates them all, making a strange 

 medley. The following communication by Mr. Poole reminds me 

 of an interesting habit of this species : — " March the 3rd. At 

 this season the dunnock displays some curious evolutions, probably 

 by way of exhibiting its gallantry — suddenly raising the wings 

 from the body, and holding them for a moment at right angles 

 with it, and then repeatedly flapping them with an attractive and 

 languishing air. It also floats in the air in a manner quite foreign 

 to its usual habit. One whose nest I was examining, when fright- 

 ened off, evidenced great distress, and even simulated being wound- 

 ed, as is the custom of many, indeed of most species of birds 

 with which I am acquainted." The hedge-sparrow (as it is called 

 in the north) is known in the south of Ireland by the name of 

 wren' s-man, * perhaps on account of its frequenting hedges 

 like the wren, along with which it often falls a sacrifice to the 

 "wren-boys" on St. Stephen's, or Christmas day. The wren 

 being in the estimation of these worthies (see account of that 

 species) the greater bird of the two, we can understand why the 

 other should be called v/ien's-mcm. Reefogue is the name applied 

 to it in Wexford.f 



Mr. R. Davis, in February, 1838, kindly sent from Clonmel 

 for my inspection a specimen of the hedge-sparrow, the upper 



* Mr. R. Ball. 



t Mr. Poole. " Riabhog (pronounced reefogue) signifies in Irish, brownish-grey 

 bird."— Mr. R. S. M'Adam. 



