The Birds of the British Islands Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...Battle, Sussex, 12 May, 1904. Nicoll, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, XIV, p. 84. 1.., . ' LONDON I 1--E. GRANT RICHARDS-, -CARLTON STREET I--I October, 1906 PART III Accentor= one singing with another; from ad and cantor, a singer. THE HEDGE-SPARROW ACCENTOR MODULARIS, LINNZEUS The Hedge-Sparrow has been so called from its partiality for hedgerows and general likeness to the Sparrow; the bird belongs however to a difierent family. M6dz7l17nIs=singing in a measured manner, from mddzilus, a measure. Fr: Mmwhet. Ger: Hecken-Braunelle. THE Hedge-Sparrow is a resident species which is commonly distributed throughout the kingdom, except in the Shetlands. It extends throughout Europe and to Asia Minor and in the autumn large numbers of birds from Northern Scandinavia reach our eastern coast, especially Lincolnshire and Yorkshire; the return migration takes place in the spring. The Hedge-Sparrow is almost as well known as the Robin and is met with in orchards, gardens and shrubberies, but especially along the hedgerows in the neighbourhood of houses. In the winter the birds are commonly to be seen searching for food in rick yards, among the poultry or on a manure heap, and in severe weather they come for their share of crumbs which kindly hands may provide, but during the breeding season they become less trustful and, like the Robins, go somewhat further afield. The Hedge-Sparrow is a confiding, peaceable and unobtrusive little bird and not at all shy, so that its actions can be easily observed as it hops on the ground beneath the shrubs or at the bottom of a hedgerow industriously seeking for insect food. It is very rarely seen much in the open, nor does it perch in high trees, preferring to flit along a hedge or perch on its topmost twigs. This...