The Hedge Accentor is very common through the whole of England, and 
may be heard in the gardens, copses, and hedge-rows, chanting its pleasing and 
plaintive melody without displaying much fear of its auditors. It seems, indeed, 
to be actually attracted to man, and, in spite of the terrible havoc which is 
made year after year by young bird-nesters among its homes, it always draws 
near to human habitations as soon as the cold days of autumn commence, and 
may be seen flitting about the barns and outhouses in a perfectly unconcerned 
manner. 
It is especi fly adapted for living among the hedges, as it possesses a singular 
facility in threading its way through the twigs, stems, and branches. It seems 
equally at home in dried brushwood, and may often be seen traversing the 
interior of a woodpile with perfect ease. The nest is one of the earliest to be 
built, and it is frequently completed and the eggs laid before the leaves have 
shown themselves. 
The song of the Hedge Accentor is sweet, but not varied nor powerful, and 
has a peculiar plaintive air about it. The bird is a persevering songster, con 
tinning to sing throughout a large portion of the year, and only ceasing during 
the time of the ordinary moult. Like many other warbling birds, it possesses 
considerable powers of imitation, and can mock with some success the greater 
number of British song-birds. 
