They have white Throats and Breasts,
with black Backs. The Planters put Gourds on standing Poles,
on purpose for these Fowl to build in, because they are a very Warlike Bird,
and beat the Crows from the Plantations.
{Swift.}
The Swift, or Diveling, the same as in England.
{Swallow.}
Swallows, the same as in England.
{Humming-Bird.}
The Humming-Bird is the Miracle of all our wing'd Animals;
He is feather'd as a Bird, and gets his Living as the Bees,
by sucking the Honey from each Flower. In some of the larger sort of Flowers,
he will bury himself, by diving to suck the bottom of it, so that
he is quite cover'd, and oftentimes Children catch them in those Flowers,
and keep them alive for five or six days. They are of different Colours,
the Cock differing from the Hen. The Cock is of a green, red,
Aurora, and other Colours mixt. He is much less than a Wren,
and very nimble. His Nest is one of the greatest Pieces of Workmanship
the whole Tribe of wing'd Animals can shew, it commonly hanging
on a single Bryar, most artificially woven, a small Hole being left
to go in and out at. The Eggs are the Bigness of Pease.
{Tom-Tit.}
The Tom-Tit, or Ox-Eyes, as in England.
{Owls.}
Of Owls we have two sorts; the smaller sort is like ours in England;
the other sort is as big as a middling Goose, and has a prodigious Head.
They make a fearful Hollowing in the Night-time, like a Man,
whereby they often make Strangers lose their way in the Woods.
{Scritch Owls.}
Scritch Owls, much the same as in Europe.
{Baltimore-Bird.}
The Baltimore-Bird, so call'd from the Lord Baltimore,
Proprietor of all Maryland, in which Province many of them are found.
They are the Bigness of a Linnet, with yellow Wings, and beautiful
in other Colours.
{Throstle.}
Throstle, the same Size and Feather as in Europe, but I never could hear
any of them sing.
{Weet Bird.}
The Weet, so call'd because he cries always before Rain;
he resembles nearest the Fire-tail.
{Cranes and Storks.}
Cranes use the Savannas, low Ground, and Frogs; they are above five Foot-high,
when extended; are of a Cream Colour, and have a Crimson Spot
on the Crown of their Heads. Their Quills are excellent for Pens;
their Flesh makes the best Broth, yet is very hard to digest.
Among them often frequent Storks, which are here seen, and no where besides
in America, that I have yet heard of. The Cranes are easily
bred up tame, and are excellent in a Garden to destroy Frogs, Worms,
and other Vermine.
{Snow-Birds.}
The Snow-Birds are most numerous in the North Parts of America,
where there are great Snows. They visit us sometimes in Carolina,
when the Weather is harder than ordinary.
