THE HEDGE-SPARROW. 267 



note (6.) — The hedge-sparrow has a pleasing song; it remains 

 with us the whole year ; feeds on insects and worms, but will 

 also, like the redbreast, pick up crumbs of bread, and seems to 

 prefer being near the habitations of man. It appears that, 

 although the young or eggs of the hedge-sparrow are invariably 

 destroyed whenever the cuckoo's egg is hatched in the hedge- 

 sparrow's nest, this destruction is not effected by the hedge- 

 sparrow, but by the young cuckoo. As the following lines, on 

 disturbing a hedge-sparrow from her nest, allude to this fact, I 

 shall be, I trust, pardoned for reprinting them here : they have 

 long been before the public. 



" Little flutterer! swiftly flying, 



Here is none to harm thee near ; 

 Kite, nor hawk, nor school-boy prying, 

 Little flutterer! cease to fear. 



One who would protect thee, ever, 

 From the school-boy, kite, and hawk, 



Musing now obtrudes, but never 

 Dreamt of plunder in his walk. 



He no weasel stealing slily, 



Would permit thy eggs to take, 

 Nor the pole-cat, nor the wily 



Adder, nor the wreathed snake, 



May no cuckoo wandering near thee, 



Lay her egg within thy nest ; 

 Nor thy young ones, born to cheer thee, 



Be destroy'd by such a guest.* 



Little flutterer ! swiftly flying, 



Here is none to harm thee, near ; 

 Kite, nor hawk, nor school-boy prying; 

 Little flutterer cease to fear. 



* The fact here alluded to is particularly mentioned by Dr. 

 Jenner in a paper published in the Philosophical Transactions 

 for the year 1788. 



N 2 



