194 
SYLVIAD.E. 
The call-note of these birds is said to be a close imitation 
of the word tree! tree! but the song of the male is con¬ 
sidered very pleasing, and resembles that of the sky-lark and 
pipit. 
The food of the Alpine Accentor consists of seeds and 
berries, and small snails, which they take from the ground 
among the stones ; also beetles, ear-wigs, flies, ants’ eggs, &c. 
&c. All sorts of grass-seeds also constitute their food during 
great part of the year. 
The nests of these birds are usually found among rocks 
or stones, or under low bushes of Alpine roses, &c., close 
to the ground, and covered over by the bushes, or sheltered 
by shelving stones, which protect them from rude winds 
or unfavourable weather. The nest consists of moss and 
flne grasses, and is lined with wool and hair; it is cup¬ 
shaped, and resembles in form and structure that of our 
common species, the hedge chanter; the eggs also have a 
great resemblance to that nearly allied species, being fine 
blue-green, without any spots ; they are four or five, and 
probably even more in number. These birds are said to 
have two broods in the year ; the first of which is hatched 
in May, the second in July. 
As the habits of the Alpine Accentor confine it, in a 
great measure, to mountainous regions, it must necessarily 
be locally and partially distributed, and as it is little known 
on the western borders of Europe, it is a subject of some 
surprise how it should happen that individuals have occa¬ 
sionally penetrated so far from their natural haunts as to 
visit our island; especially as these birds in their migratory 
movements do not appear to seek change of latitude, but 
only to consult the variations of temperature that result 
from a greater or less elevation above the level of the sea. 
Three instances only are recorded of the appearance of this 
bird in England ; one of these was shot some years ago in 
