Passeres 39 



Subfamily Accentorinse, ok Hedge-spareows 



We will now turn to the Hedge-sparrow and the 

 Dipper, though the former has sometimes been placed 

 nearer to the Thrushes, and the latter may possibly be 

 akin to the Wren : the truth, which we should constantly 

 bear in mind, being that no linear arrangement can 

 ever accord exactly with nature, since a bird often 

 exhibits striking affinity to species other than those to 

 which it stands next in a list. 



The Hedge-sparrow (Accentor modularis) is a resident 

 or partially migratory species, the numbers of which are 

 vastly increased by immigrants from the north in the 

 cold season. It breeds far up our hills, though not in 

 some of our bleakest islands, and occupies Europe from 

 the northern limit of forest-growth to north Spain, as 

 well as the Caucasus and Persia. Its shuffling gait on 

 the ground, its weak flight, its mossy nest and five or 

 six deep blue eggs are matters of ordinary knowledge, 

 but its sweet note is sometimes mistaken for the less 

 melodious strains of the Robin. The Hedge-sparrow 

 breeds very early and rears more than one brood in the 

 year, while it often acts as foster-parent to the Cuckoo. 

 The nest maybe found in low hedge-bushes, shrubs, heaps 

 of brushwood, and the like, and almost invariably has a 

 foundation of little dry twigs. In winter the bird will 

 eat almost any scraps that are given to it, but the natural 

 food is of insects, worms, spiders, and seeds. The 

 colour is brown with blue-grey head and lower surface. 



Family OINCLID.^, or Dippers 

 The Dipper {Cinclus cinclus) is one of many forms 

 that occur in suitable spots throughout Europe and Asia, 

 and extend to the Atlas mountains. By some our species 



