Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-14
The English Hedge-SparrOw. From the Tondop Saturday Reyiew1


 As we have said, the hedge-sparrow is one of the most harmless of British birds, feed ing as it does on insects, worms and seeds. In hard weather, as Gilbert White tells us, it "frequents sinks and gutters, where it picks up crumbs and other sweepings," and 1t will always be found among the birds coming to be fed where food is spread for them in the winter time. Gilbert White also tells us that ''in mild weather they pro- cure worms, which are stirring every month in the year, as any one may see that will only be at the trouble of taking a candle to grass plot on any mild winters night" Many persons accuse the hedge-sparrow of taking fruit and even peas in the summer time; but not only is it innocent of the of- fences so laid to it's charge, but in reality it is friend to the gardener.
 These birds are generally seen in pairs, and have been well described as unobtru- sive, quiet and retiring without being shy. They may generally be seen on lawns, though never far from cover, moving about ip search of food with cheerful, jerky gait, and cons tinually flirting their wings in 8 way pecu- liarly their own. This curious motion of the wings is doubtless the origin of 'fShuffie- wing" one of the birds many names. They are very early breeders, pairing as they do in the beginning of February, at which time the cock may be heard constantly sing ing his quaint little song, which, though de- ficient in variety, is very pretty and sweet in tone. Like the red-breast, he continues his song practically the year through, singing as he does at all times, except during his mouIt and in very hard weather. Bewick said of the hedge-sparrow: 'tIts song is little vs- ried, but pleasant, especially in a season when all other warblers are silent; it's usual strain is sort of quivering, frequently re- beating something like the following tit-tit- tititit, from which in some places it is called the Titling." The nest is rather loose structure of twigs, roots, green moss and wool we'll rounded internally and lined with hair. So neat is this lining that Rennie sug- gested that the birds must moisten the hairs to make them wind, since otherwise il would not be easy to account for the neatness of the work. It is placed in bush or hedge, usually low down, or-fayorite places with these birds-in the heaps of faggots, pea- sticks, brush and rubbish so often found in gardens and shrubberies. The eggs, from four to six in number, of 8 uniform light blue color, are laid often early in March, and, therefore, before the bushes and hedges are in leaf, the consequence being that they not infrequently become the prey of bird's- nesting boys. Cuckoos are particularly fond of depositing their eggs in the nests of hedge sparrows, @ circumstance evidently well known to Shakespeare, as he made the fool in 'King Lear" say,
 For you trow, nuncel,
 The hedge sparrow fed the cuckoo so lons
 That it had it's head bit off by it's young.
 This apparent preference is probably ac- counted for by the fact that the nest is easily found, as little art is used in concealing it.. Frank Buckland expressed the opinion that one pair of hedge sparrows could not feed such giutton as young cuckoo, and that other birds, attracted by it's peculiar cry, must help the foster parents. Be this as it may, it is an undoubted fact that many cuc- koos are yearly matched and brought up by these birds. Hedgs-sparrows are occasional ly kept in captivity; they thrive in aviaries, and, being of peaceful disposition, are not given to interfering with the other birds, though some people complain that they are unsociable. When so kept they will eat ca- nary seed, bread crumbs, paste, etc., but they look up on an occasional meal-worm as their greatest luxury.