HEDGE-SPARROW, a species of MOTACILLA, omitted under that article. Its head is of a deep brown, mixed with ash-colour; the cheeks marked with oblong spots of dirty white: the back and coverts of the wings are dusky, edged with reddish brown; the quill-feathers and tail dusky: the rump brown, tinged with green: the throat and breast are of a dull ash-colour; the belly of a dirty white: the sides, thighs, and vent-feathers are of a pale tawny brown; the legs of a dull flesh-colour.—This bird frequents low hedges, especially those of gardens. It makes its nest in some small bush, and lays four or five eggs of a fine pale-blue colour; during the breeding season it has a remarkable flirt with its wings. The male has a short but very sweet plaintive note, which it begins with the first frosty mornings, and continues till a little time in the spring. This is the motacilla modularis of Linnaeus; the bird which he supposes to be our hedge-sparrow, and describes under the title of motacilla curruca, differs in colours of plumage as well as eggs.