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New Jerfey, Raccoon. 265 



been obferved that when thefe animals only eat 

 fmall quantities, yet they fuffer great pains. On 

 the other hand, the leaves of the Kalmia are the 

 food of flags, when the fnow covers the ground, 

 and hides all other provifions from them. There- 

 fore, if they be fliot in winter, their bowels are 

 found filled with thefe leaves ; and it is very ex- 

 traordinary, that if thofe bowels are given to 

 dogs, they become quite ftupid and as it were 

 drunk, 'and often fall fo fick, that they feem to be 

 at the point of death; but the people, who have eat- 

 en the venifon, have not felt the leaft indifpofition. 

 The leaves of the Kalmia are likewife the winter 

 food of thofe birds, which the Swedes in North 

 America call Hazel-hens, and which ftay here all 

 winter, for when they are killed, their crop is 

 found quite rilled with them. 



THE wood of the Kalmia is very hard, and fome 

 people on that account make the axis of their 

 pullies of it. Weavers fhuttles are chiefly made 

 of it, and the weavers are of opinion, that no 

 wood in this country is better for this purpofe ; 

 for it is compadt, may be made very fmooth, and 

 does not eafily crack, or burft. The joiners and 

 turners here employ it in making all kinds of 

 work, which requires the beft wood ; they chief- 

 ly ufe the root becaufe it is quite yellow j the 

 wood has a very fuitable hardnefs and finenefs, 

 and from the center, fpreads as it were fmall rays, 

 which are at fome diftance from each other* 

 When the leaves of the Kalmia are thrown into 

 the fire, they make a crackling like fait. The 

 chimney-fweepers make brooms in winter of the 

 branches with the leaves on them, fmce they 



4 cannot 



