PEAT EVIL, 
and particularly by Gerard*, whose observations are generally noticed 
by authors, in describing this curious species. 
* « What our eyes have seene, and hands have touched, we shall declare. There is 
a small island in Lancashire called the Pile of Foulders, wherein are found the broken 
pieces of old and bruised ships, some whereof have been cast thither by shipwrake, and 
also the trunks and bodies with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast up there like- _ 
wise; whereon is found a certaine spume, or froth, that in time breedeth unto certaine 
shels, in shape like those of the muskle, but sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour, 
wherin is contained a thing in form like a lace of silke finely woven, as it were, to- 
gether, of a whitish colour; one end whereof is fastened unto the inside of the 
shell, even as the fish of oisters and muskles are: the other end is made fast unto the 
belly of a rude masse, or lumpe, which in time commeth to the shape and form of a 
bird. When it is perfectly formed, the shell gapeth open, and the first thing that ap- 
i peareth isothe foresaid lace or string; next come the legs of the bird, hanging out, and 
as it groweth greater it openeth the shell by degrees, till at length it is all come forth, 
and hangeth onely by the bill: in short space after it commeth to full maturitie, and 
falleth into the sea, where it gathereth feathers, and groweth to fowle bigger than a 
Mallard and lesser than a Goose, having blacke legs and bill or beake, and feathers 
’ blacke and white, spotted in such manner as is our Magpie, called in some places a 
Pie-Annet, which the people of Lancashire call by no other name than a tree Goose: 
which place aforesaid, and all those parts adjofning, do so much abound therewith, 
that one of the best is bought for three-pence. For the truth hereof, if any doubt, 
may it please them to repaire unto me, and I shall satisfie them by the testimonie of 
"good witnesses.” Vide Geraxn’s HERRALy Pp. 1587, 15838, 
