New Jerfey, Raccoon. 77 



they are continually feafting. They aflem- 

 ble by thoufands in the maize-fields, and 

 live at difcretion. They are very bold; 

 for when they are difturbed, they only go 

 and fettle in another part of the field. In 

 that manner, they always go from one end 

 of the field to the other, and do not leave 

 it till they are quite fatisfied. They fly in 

 incredible fwarms in autumn ; and it can, 

 hardly be conceived whence fuch immenfe 

 numbers of them mould come. When they 

 rife in the air they darken the fky, and 

 make it look quite black. They are then 

 in fuch great numbers, and fo clofe toge- 

 ther, that it is furprifing how they find 

 room to move their wings. I haveltnown a 

 perfon fhoot a great number of them on one 

 fide of a maize-field, which was far from 

 frightening the reft > for they only juft took 

 flight, and dropped at about the diftance of a 

 muiket-fhot in another part of the field, 

 and always changed their place when their 

 enemy approached. They tired the fportf- 

 man, before he could drive them from off 

 the maize, though he killed a great many of 

 them at every ihot. They likewife eat the 

 feeds of the aquatic tare-grafs (Zizanla aqua- 

 ticaj commonly late in autumn, after the 

 maize is got in. I am told, they likewife 

 eat buck- wheat, and oats. Some people 



fay, 



