THE yOUNG 



NATUEALIST. 



S99 



Genus I., Accentor, Flam. 



Accentor. — 



The members of this genus are plain- 

 coloured, generally brown ; the bill tapers 

 almost, gradually to the point ; first quill 

 feather exceedingly short, the third the 

 longest ; the wings only reach to the base 

 of the tail. One species is native, and an- 

 other an occasional visitor to this country. 



30. HEDGESPARROW. 



Accentor modiilaris, (Linn). 



MoDULARis (L.) to chant or warble. 



Size.— Length, 6 in. to 6\ in. ; expanse, 

 8a in. 



Plumage.— Bill and legs reddish horn 

 colour ; eyes dark brown ; head and under 

 parts sooty black, tinged with brown on the 

 sides and ear-coverts ; back wings and tail 

 brown, each feather darker in the centre. 



The Female is generally slightly spotted 

 about the head and breast. 



Young Birds are lighter in colour and 

 more mottled, but change to the adult garb 

 the same year. 



Varieties of this species are not uncom- 

 mon. One, entirely sooty black, is given on 

 the plate from a specimen killed by myself 

 at Almondbury Bank, near Huddersfield. 

 It is now in Mr. Bond's collection, who has 

 also white, pied, and cream-coloured vari- 

 eties. Two varieties are reported by Mr. 

 Gunn in the Natnralist (1864), vol. i., p. 146, 

 as having been obtained in Norfolk : one 

 being pied with white about the head, and 

 the other "being of a yellowish brown on 

 the upper parts, the under surface of a pale 

 slate colour, inclining to greyish under the 

 throat." Yarrell records one with the 

 "head, neck, body, and wing-coverts dull 

 white, varied with a few markings of the 

 natural brown ; the wing and tail feathers 

 pure white ; beak and legs flesh colour." 

 He also records another of a " uniform 

 reddish buff." 



Note. — The song of the hedgesparrow 

 is only short, composed of a few notes, yet 

 particularly soft and sweet. It commences 

 early in spring, often in January, and con- 

 tinues up to the time when the young 

 demand all the parental care. It has also 

 a call-note resembling "che, che." Occa- 

 sionally sings in the night-time. 



Flight. — The flight is generally for 

 short distances only. When it alights, it hops 

 from branch to branch, or upon the ground, 

 flapping its wings and uttering its plaintive 

 call note. 



Migration.— Resident throughout the 

 year ; in winter, however, it approaches 

 nearer to the habitations of man. 



Food. — The food consists of small 

 insects seeds, bread crumbs, and almost any 

 eatable matter. When the young are in the 

 nest large quantities of Caterpillars are 

 destroyed. 



In Confinement. — It is an interesting 

 bird in an aviary, for its sociable habits 

 and its early song. 



Habitat. — Common in all parts of 

 Britain, except the extreme north, where it 

 is only an occassional visitor, or perhaps 

 resident in more diminished numbers. 



Abroad. — Is found inmost of the countries 

 in Europe, and has been noticed in Persia, 

 and Asia Minor. 



Nest. — The nest is placed in a hedge or 

 low bush, and is rather shallow, composed 

 of moss with bits of sticks, or straw some- 

 times, or wool, lined with hair, and occa- 

 sionally lined with feathers. The nest of 

 this bird is much used by the cuckoo. 



Eggs. — From four to six, very bright 

 bluish green, very uniform in colour. 



Varieties. — I never saw a variety except 

 in size — odd specimens sometimes occur as 

 small as peas, probably first eggs. One is 

 recorded (Zool., p. 434) of a bluish white 

 colour, mottled and speckled with light 

 brown, and much rounder than usual. 



