174 The Natural Historic 



fall from them, which the Eagle immediately carries off. 

 They are a large and strong Bird, being above two thirds as 

 big as the Eagle, they build their Xests after the same manner 

 as the Eagles do, and that generally by the sides of Rivers 

 and Creeks, and the Eagles and these Birds are seldom or 

 never known to sit upon any living Tree. They are of a Gray 

 Pyed colour, and the most dexterous Fowl in N^ature at catch- 

 ing of Fish, for they never eat any Flesh-meat. They are 

 a quick and sharp sighted Fowl, will fly at a good height, 

 hover above in the Air, and watch their prey, which as soon as 

 they have discovered, they will dart themselves like an Arrow 

 out of a Bow into the Waters, and breaking the force thereof 

 with their Breasts, quickly catch up the Fish and flie away. 

 But it sometimes happens that they strike their Tallons so 

 fast in a large Fish which they are not able to carry, that the 

 fish suddenly takes them under the Water (before they can 

 discharge themselves) and so drowns them. This I have been 

 Eye-witness to, and in an Hour after it happened, got both 

 the Fish (which was a large Drum) and the Fisliing-Hawh. 

 Their virtues and uses are much the same with the Eagles. 



The Turhey-Buzzard, is a kind of small Vulture, which 

 lives on all manner of dead Carcasses. Their Head and red 

 Gills resemble very much those of a Tui^hey, from whence it 

 has it's !Name. They are near as big as an Eagle, and their 

 Feathers are of a sooty brown Colour. They are in great 

 plenty here, and in the ISTorthern Provinces, and have the 

 most offensive and nasty Smell of any Fowl I have ever met 

 with. They are a clear and sharp sighted Bird, and their 

 Flight is like that of our Kites; they soar at a great height iii 

 the Air, for Hours together over the Carrion, 'till such time as 

 thoY find an Opportunity to prey on it. They smell at vast 



Distances, 



