THE HEDGE-ACCENTORS. 
3°7 
recorded by Heuglin as wintering as far south as Arabia Petnea. 
In Palestine, according to Canon Tristram, it is a resident. 
Habits— Although not a real Sparrow, as its English name 
would suggest, the familiar title by which this little bird is uni- 
versally known must be preferred to the more correct one of 
Hedge- Accentor, which properly describes its relationships. 
It has been too long know 1 as the “Hedge-Sparrow” for any ad- 
vantage to accrue from a change of English name. In all other 
respects except that of the similarity of colouring of the upper 
surface, it is quite different from the Sparrows, and as regards 
voice, nesting-habits, colour of eggs, etc., it has nothing in 
common with the latter birds. 
Like the R >bin, the Hedge-Sparrow seeks the society of 
man, and is as frequent a pensioner in winter as that well- 
known type of Avian familiarity. The nest, too, is frequently 
to be found in our gardens, and is one of the first to be built 
in the year, as it is sometimes found as early as March. A 
clipped yew-hedge is a favourite shelter for the nest, but it is 
placed in all kinds of situations, though never at any great 
height from the ground. Hedge-rows and tangled thickefs on 
commons are also selected as nesting-sites : we have also found 
the nest in furze-bushes, while it is sometimes placed in ivy or 
even against a tree-trunk. The late Robert Gray mentions his 
having found a nest in a cave on Ailsa Craig, placed in a ledge 
of rock at the base of a tuft of hart’s-tongue fern, the floor of 
the cave being covered with water. 
The food of the Hedge-Sparrow consists almost entirely of 
worms and insects, but it will also, like the Robin, occasionally 
feed on grain in the winter. It sings all through the year, a 
poor little song, but cheerful enough when heard through the 
dismal days of winter, when the bird frequents the neighbour- 
hood of houses. 
Nest. — Composed almost entirely of moss, with a few sticks, 
roots, and dry grass, but the chief material used is moss, which 
sometimes forms the lining. Very often, however, the latter 
consists of wool with hair and feathers. 
Eggs — Fromfourto six in number. Entirely greenish-blue, with- 
out any spots. The shell is rough and not so shiny or so brittle as 
the egg of the Redstart. Axis, 07-0-8 inch; diam., 0-55-0-6. 
x 2 
