HOOPOE.
next follow. After busily investigating the rough surface of the soil for about a quarter of an hour or
twent) minutes, elevating and drooping the feathers of his crest from time to time, he rose at last on
wing and came with a slow and deliberate flight straight towards Hie furze behind which I was
concealed, disappearing from sight as he darted down on the opposite side of the bush. Silently making
my way round with the utmost caution not to break a twig or cause a sound, he sprung up from the
long rough grass surrounding the furze, within four or five yards, and ottering an easy chance as ho
crossed the open, in the attempt to regain his old quarters on the low ground, fell on the unbroken
downs at the distance of about livc-aud-twenty yards, bis feathers uurutllcd by a single shot-mark.
The colours of the soft parts of this specimen, which proved to bo n fine male in very handsome
plumage, were as follows:—Iris dark hazel. Upper mandible black at the point and dark horn-tint towards
tho base; lower mandible horn-colour at the point aud a pale flesh hue towards the base. Legs and toes a
dark horn-tint. The stomach of the wanderer, who had probably hut lately readied our shores, contained
scarcely any nourishment—a few small beetles, a spider or two, and some other tiuy insects being all
that was found on an examination being made.
II EDGE-SPA R ROW
ACCENTOR MOWLAMS.
TttEHH arc few parts of the British Islands, with the exception of the more remote and barren moorlands
or far-spreading rush-grown swamps, where this familiar and confiding species has nut come under my
observation. Though partial to the immediate vicinity of duellings, the Hedge-Sparrow occasionally strays
to distant solitudes when sullieient cover is obtainable. While searching for the nest of the Uartford
ITarbler on the summit of Hie breezy downs of Sussex, far from human habitation, I have often disturbed
a pair or two of these birds. If merely a glimpse is caught of the tiny stranger skulking through the
dense undergrowth or darting rapidly air i-s an opening in ihe furze, it is by no means easy to form an
opiuion as to which species the individual belongs, the tints of their plumage being almost precisely
similar aud the dilfcrence in size exceedingly small.
These birds havo been described by several writers as of a retiring disposition and by no means
quarrelsome ; when asserting their own rights, however, I have repeatedly seen them square up to Sparrows
and other small birds, with such pluck that the aggressor was always compelled In leave the field.
Hedge-sparrows commence their nesting-operations at an early date; soon nTlcr the beginning of the
year the male may bo seen shullling round the FEMALE aud showing himself oil'for her admiration. On
the 2nd of January, lS>it, I noticed a pair going through the singular antics often indulged in by this
species, when a House-Sparrow settled on the grass near at hand, aud approaching in A threatening manner
was immediately nttacked and driven from Ihe spot by one of the pair.
Macgillivray asserts that these birds "seem to pair in the quietest possible manner." The Scotch
naturalist was a most accurate observer, though 1 can scarcely agree with these remarks. Having carefully
watched the actions of these birds throughout the winter, I am of opinion that when once paired they
invariably remain together till death divides the partnership. There is, however, a very marked
courting early in the year ; this is carried on, in open weather, all through January and the greater portion of
February, the nests being occasionally built towards the end of the month, though more commonly in
March. The past winter having been extremely mild, I noticed a euuplc of nests containing eggs before the
cud of February.
It is stated by several writers that these birds are not gregarious, and on no single occasion have I met
with Hocks of auy number, I remarked, however, that four individuals have kept company in our garden all
through the winter, showing themselves conspicuously on the lawn, the whole parly invariably chasing and
driving one another in such a manner that it is impossible to mi stake them for the quiet and sober pairs
that frequent the samo spot. At the present time, within a few days of midsummer (lfiBl), they have
not yet separated, aud may still be seen performing their monotonous evolutions on the green turf in early
morning and again towards evening.
The particles of food on which this species subsists must he exceedingly minute, there birds having