CHAPTER XVII. 



The Hedge Sparrow. 



Motacilla ^nodularis, Lin. ; Fauvette cVhiver, Buffon. 



Desceiption and Character. - — This merry little bird is 

 almost as common and plentiful as its first cousin, the 

 House Sparrow, but bears a totally different character. It 

 is gentle, modest, and unpretentious, and would be more 

 esteemed if it were better known ; for, although it is not 

 attractive in its exterior appearance, it has several qualities 

 of recommendation : It possesses an agreeable voice, and sings 

 sweetly ; it is bland and sprightly, and exhibits no fear after 

 it becomes domesticated. It is known by a variety of names, 

 the chief of which are the Hedge Warbler, Hedge Accentor, 

 and Hedge Dunnock. It is likewise termed the Titling, 

 and in the northern parts of Yorkshire, and the southern 

 parts of the county of Durham, it is commonly and familiarly 

 named the Hedge Caddy. In some localities it is also 

 named the Shufflewing. The Hedge Sparrow is associated 

 and confounded with the House Sparrow by many people ; 

 and this is not to be wondered at, for the association is not 

 by name alone, for there is considerable resemblance in the 

 external appearance of the two varieties ; hence, the casual 

 observer has much trouble to separate them. This is the 

 reason why it is held in such low repute, whilst many birds, 

 with less pretensions to musical abilities, are kept and valued 

 as song birds. 



An adult bird measures from 5in. to 5-|-in. in length, the tail 

 being 2^in. The beak is long, slender, and pointed, and of a 



