number, of a light greenish-blue, without spots, and measure
from *88 to ‘72 by from ’59 to ‘58 in. The nest, built of
roots, green moss and wool, and neatly lined with hair, is
usually placed low down in a bush and is generally finished
early in March. The young are hatched in April, and a
second or even a third brood is reared in the season.
The Hedge-Sparrow goes very far north in summer,
Pastor Sommerfelt believes that he once obtained its eggs in
East Finmark, and the Messrs. Godman certainly found a
nest at Bodo, in Nordland. It is given by Magnus von Wright
as occurring in F inland; but there is no trace of its further
extension in this direction.* Even in North Germany, where,
as in most of the countries in which it occurs, it is more or
less of a migrant, Dr. Borggreve says it becomes scarce
* I t is represented in Japan by the distinct but nearly-allied Accentor rubidus,
which has also been lately obtained in China.
towards the north-east. In Turkey, according to Messrs.
Elwes and Buckley, it is not uncommon. Strickland obtained
it at Smyrna in December, but considered it rare
there. I t is resident, says Canon Tristram, in the Lebanon;
and Dr. von Heuglin met with it in Arabia Petraea in December.
I t is a winter-visitant to continental Greece, but seems
not to occur in the islands. I t inhabits all the rest of
Europe, being common in most countries ; but even in parts
of Italy it is said to be migratory though perhaps its movements
are, as is asserted by Malherbe to be the case in
Sicily, merely from the hills to the lower districts. In Malta
Mr. Wright says it is rare, appearing chiefly in winter. It
is tolerably common in Southern Spain, breeding in the
mountains, but seems to be less so in Portugal. Loche says
it occurs in Algeria, but it must be rare there.
A remarkable peculiarity of the Hedge-Sparrow has escaped
the notice of many writers, but not that of the observant
Macgillivray, who says :— This bird is liable to a
singular disease, consisting of tubercular and apparently
carcinomatous excrescences upon the eyelids and about the
base of the bill.” To the truth of this statement the Editor
can bear witness, while he can add that these excrescences are
not confined to the bird’s head, but are also found, and
sometimes of a very large size, on its feet. Naumann too
has noticed the liability of this species to disease.
Some writers have objected to the name of Hedge-Sparrow
for this species, on the ground that it is not a Sparrow in
the sense to which they wish to restrict that word, and have
suggested various other appellations by which to call it.
Yet a name which Shakespear has put into the mouth of
one of his fools* is hardly to be dropped, even at the bidding
of the wisest, so long as the English tongue lasts. I t may
be easy in some cases to change a name which has been only
used in technical works and known to but few and chosen
readers; but the attempt to meddle with a word which is
part and parcel of our language and literature is a veiy
* “ The Hedge-Sparrow fed the Cuckow so long,
That it had its head hit off by its young.”— King Lear, Act 1. Sc. 4.