[17] 



Milk white, with red Legs very lovely to behold. The Bittern is 

 there less than in England^ and does not make that sounding 

 Noise that ever I heard. * * * The Tewits* are smaller 

 than the English^\ and have no long Toppins, but just like a 

 young one that begins to fly." 



Bevei'ley's History of Virginia J published in 1705 speaks thus 

 of the Birds in the following passage. "As in Summer, the 

 Rivers and Creeks are fill'd with Fish, so in Winter they are in 

 many Places cover'd with Fowl. There are such a Multitude of 

 Swans, Geese, Brants, Sheldrakes, Ducks of several Sorts, Mal- 

 lard, Teal, Blewings, and many other Kinds of Water-Fowl that 

 the plenty of them is incredible. I am but a small Sports-man, 

 yet with a Fowling-Peice, have kill'd above Twenty of tliem at a 

 shot. In like manner are the Mill-Ponds, and great Runs in the 

 Woods stor'd with these Wild-Fowl at certain seasons of the Year. 

 vThe Shores, Marshy Grounds, Swamps, and Savaima's are also 

 stor'd with the like Plenty of other Game, of all Sorts, as 

 Cranes, Curlews, Herons, Snipes, Woodcocks, Saurers, Ox-eyes, 

 Plover, Larks, and many other good Birds for the Table that 

 they have not yet found a name for." The Mocking Bird and its 

 habits is described in the following extract : " the merry Birds too, 

 join their pleasing Notes to this rural Consort, especially the 

 Mock-birds, who love Society so well, that whenever they see 

 Mankind, they will perch upon a Twigg very near them, and 

 sing the sweetest wild Airs in the World : But what is most re- 

 markable in these Melodious Animals, they will frequently fly at 

 small distances before a Traveller, warbling out their Notes sev- 

 eral Miles an end, and by their Musick make a Man forget the 

 Fatigues of his Journey." 



Beverly gives in a plate of Indians fishing (facing p. 34 Book 

 II) a representation of two Bald Eagles capturing fish from the 

 Fish Hawks and, like Clayton, an interesting description as 

 follows of the scene subsequently so graphically depicted, in the 

 classic passage in Wilson's Ornithology. " 'Tis a good Diversion 

 to observe the Manner of the Fishing-Hawks preying upon Fish, 



*Aif:ialitis vocif<:ra. 

 ^I'anellus cristattts. 



{The History and Present State of Virg:inia — In Pour Parts. By a Native and 

 Inhabitant of the Place — London 1705. 



