500 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Hedge-Sparrow is a migratory bird in the northern portions of its 

 range ; and many of these little wanderers not only pass Heligoland^ but 

 reach this country. jMy friend Mr. Cordeaux writes to me that the bird 

 is a regular immigrant to N.E. Lincolnshire. 



The Hedge-Sparrow has the head, nape, and ear-coverts slate-grey 

 streaked with brown ; the remainder of the upper parts is reddish brown 

 streaked with dark brown ; the upper tail-coverts are unstreaked olive- 

 brown ; the wings are dark brown, margined and tipped with reddish brown ; 

 the tail is also dark brown, most of the feathers edged with light brown ; 

 the chin and throat are slate-grey, gradually shading into huffish white on 

 the lower breast and belly ; the flanks are pale brown streaked -with dark 

 brown. Bill dark brown, paler on the lower mandible ; legs, feet, and claws 

 light brown ; irides hazel. The female only differs from the male in the 

 colour of her plumage in having the head and flanks a little more spotted. 

 Young birds have no slate-grey on the head or underparts, and are much 

 more spotted than adults. 



