BIRDS OF THE SPARROW-KIND. 235 



To this list might be added a long catalogue of fo- 

 reign pigeons ; but we shall merely name the ocot- 

 zimtzcan, which is a Mexican bird ; the plumage of 

 which is a combination of purple, green, and yellow : 

 and it is considered as the most beautiful of this nu- 

 merous race. 



CHAP. VII. 

 BIRDS OF THE SPARROW-KIND IN GENERAL. 



BlRDS of this class chiefly live in the neighbourhood 

 of man ; but all the larger species seem to dread ap- 

 proaching his vicinity, and either keep to the thick 

 darkness of the forest, or confine themselves to some 

 craggy precipice's brow. 



The small birds dwell near human habitations, from 

 being more easily supplied with an abundance of food ; 

 and instinct leads them to avoid the recess of the forest, 

 from knowing that their most formidable enemies dwell 

 securely there. All birds, even those of passage, seem 

 content with a certain district to supply themselves 

 with food : the redbreast and wren seldom leave the 

 field they have been brought up in ; and even, though 

 hunted, fly along the hedge, as if reluctant to quit their 

 native abode. 



At some particular seasons of the year most of the 

 small birds migrate either from one country to another, 

 or from the inland provinces towards the shore ; and 

 there are several persons who get their livelihood by 

 catching them in nets whilst they are upon their flight. 

 These nets are a curious piece of mechanism, and ge- 

 nerally made twelve yards in length, and the unsus- 

 pecting little warblers are allured within them by the 

 notes of some that are trained to invite them to the 



