THE SPARROW KIND. 259 



Holland. In this Amazon-like retreat, thousands 

 fall by the way ; some by fatigue, some by want ; 

 but the greatest number by the nets of the fowler, 

 the taking them being one of the chief amuse- 

 ments among the gentry where they pass. In 

 short, the change of country with all this little 

 tribe, is rather a pilgrimage than a journey, a 

 migration rather of necessity than of choice. 



Having thus given a general idea of the birds 

 of this class, it will be proper to give some account 

 of the most remarkable among them. 



CHAPTER II. 



OF THE THRUSH AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



WITH the Thrush we may rank the red-wing, 

 the field-fare, the blackbird, the ring-ouzel, and 

 the water-ouzel. 



These are the largest of the sparrow kind, and 

 may be distinguished from all others of this class, 

 as well by their size, which is well known, as by 

 their bills, which are a little bending at the point, 

 a small notch near the end of the upper chap, 

 and the outmost toe adhering as far as the first 

 joint of the middle toe. To this tribe may be 

 also added the stare or starling, which, though 

 with a flat bill, too much resembles these birds to 

 be placed any where else. 



