Subfamily ACCENTORINi^; 



THE HEDGE-SPARROW. 

 Accentor modularis (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 9. 



This familiar little bird, also called " Dunnock," is well known all over the 

 British Islands, except in some of the Outer Hebrides and Shetlands. Although 

 a resident throughout the year, a migratory movement has been observed in 

 autumn and spring, and, according to Gatke, numbers visit Heligoland. It is also 

 widely spread over Europe. 



A glance at the head and bill will suffice to show that the Hedge-Sparrow has 

 no relationship whatever to the House-Sparrow, and to emphasize this fact it has 

 been named by some authors Hedge- Accentor. 



Lord Lilford says {Birds of Northamptonshire and Neighbourhood, vol. i. 

 p. 102) "in habits, food, and conformation this little bird has no affinity with 

 what are properly called Sparrows, but I believe that in old times the term 

 Sparrow was used merely to convey the idea of a small bird, as, for instance, 

 Brook-Sparrow, Reed-Sparrow, and (a name I once heard) Moor-Sparrow, as applied 

 respectively to the Reed-Bunting, Reed- and Sedge- Warblers, and Meadow-Pipit." 



The nest, often begun in March, is placed in any low bush or hedge, very often 

 in a pile of faggots or pea-sticks, and is made of twigs, roots, dead grasses, and 

 green moss, with a lining of hair and wool. The beautiful turquoise-blue eggs 

 vary in number from four to six. 



The food consists of insects and larvae, with seeds of grasses, &c., and in winter 

 the birds fearlessly approach house doors in search of crumbs and refuse. 



The song is short, but sprightly and pleasing, and is kept up through a great 

 part of the year. Macgillivray mentions that it may sometimes be heard at night, 

 a statement which I can confirm. 



He also says : " In dry sunny weather in summer I have watched them bask- 

 ing on the road near a hedge. They would stand quite motionless, their legs 

 much bent, their tail touching the ground, their wings spread a little, and their 

 plumage all ruffled ; and thus they remain a long time, seeming to enjoy the heat 

 exceedingly, and suffering a person to approach very near them, before they fly off." 



The sexes are alike in plumage. 



58 



