NORTH CAROLINA 105 



to kill it, and hence the buzzard is not coy. But if 

 wounded or deprived of its liberty, it manifests fear 

 and does not resist if handled ; however, there is no 

 temptation to come near, since its atmosphere has an 

 odor of carrion, and its mouth is always full of regur- 

 gitated filth, which it seems to bring up out of fear 

 or distress. It is said they leave untouched the dead 

 bodies of men. They breed in holes in the rocks and 

 in hollow trees. In the woods they roost on the 

 branches of trees, and often one sees them together in 

 great numbers. The breadth of a pinion is commonly 

 from 5 and a half to 6 feet. We observed these birds 

 first along the James River ; it does not appear that 

 thev are found much farther north, but towards the 

 south they grow everywhere more numerous and are 

 met with in flocks. 



Of passage-birds which at the onset of winter desert 

 the northern and middle provinces, some tarry in this 

 rather more temperate country; others continue far- 

 ther towards the south. Even wild ducks winter here, 

 and most of the water-fowls which in the spring and 

 summer are to be found on the northern lakes and 

 rivers. A sort of swan was mentioned, similar to the 

 European and said to frequent these rivers; none was 

 seen by me. Wild turkeys are not only numerous 

 here, but of a good weight. 



The European bee, in most of the forests of 

 America but especially in the southern, has become 

 almost native. The bee was formerly not known to 

 the Americans who call it the European fly. It has 

 rapidly increased, what with the many hollow trees, 

 and the favorable climate furnishing rich pasture. 

 But little honey is gathered ; the bears nose it out with 

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