244 



BIRDS. 



At Holme Rose the Sedge AVarbler — along with the Black- 

 cap — has only been observed once by Mr. Rose to date of 1892. 



In 1893 we found it very abundant indeed on the Lower 

 Deveron, and nests were found around Drachlaw. Up in the hill- 

 valleys we found them close to Lesmurdie, on Lower Cabrach 

 valley, and here also earlier in the year Hinxman had seen 

 them. We found them also quite abundant just above Beldornie, 

 in a tangled thicket of gorse, broom, and bramble, on the right 

 bank of the river, where we had not observed them in previous 

 years, whilst fishing there constantly. [Whitethroats were seen at 

 the same time and place, and hitherto had been unobserved there 

 by us.] There were distinctly large accessions to their numbers on 

 Lower Cabrach valley that summer. At Inchrory, on the Avon, 

 Hinxman heard one singing in the garden, but he does not think 

 it remained to breed. In early August we found them swarming 

 — young and old — on the bush-covered islands of the delta of 

 the Spey, i.e. between the 1st and 8th of August 1893, on the 

 same ground as was frequented by Whitethroats, at the same time, 

 as mentioned under that species. 



Sub-family ACCENTORIN^. 

 Accentor modularis {L). Hedge Sparrow. 



In the northern districts of Inverness-shire, Hepburn remarks that 

 ' the modest little hedge-chanter was much missed about the 

 homesteads' (1847). At the present time the bird is common 

 enough, though not abundant, and we have met with it wherever 

 we have been, and all our correspondents mention it as common. 



Southwards the Hedge Sparrow is resident, general, and 

 common, but shy and retiring, and not to be considered an abun- 

 dant species. It is certainly a very unobtrusive one, and is no 

 doubt really commoner than is realised, owing to its skulking 

 and quiet habits rendering it inconspicuous. We did not see it 

 on the Upper Findhom in July 1891, but it does occur there, as 

 elsewhere. 



Perhaps this bird is nowhere more common than amongst the 

 juniper growth around the solitary huts of the foresters and crofters 

 in the dense woods of the forest tract of Spey, Dulnan, and Find- 

 horn, and near the shooting-lodges of Glenmore. A few pairs 



