180 The Natural History 



hollow Trees, and their Eeathers come off, and they are 

 Scabby, they usually lay but one Egg, and that in the Xest 

 of the Hedge Sparrow; like those in Europe. Their Flesh 

 is sweet and good Food, and eaten by many in these Parts. 

 Their Ashes are good against the Stone and Epilepsy. The 

 Dung given in Canary is good against the biting of a Mad 

 Dog. 



The Rail, Jackdaw, and Magpy, are not to be met with in 

 Carolina or any of the other E^eighboring Provinces as far as 

 I cou'd be informed. 



The Ravens are very scarce to be met with in these Parts, 

 yet they are the same sort as those with us in Ireland, and 

 other parts of Europe, they are said to live to a gTeat Age, 

 and lay about ^yq or six Eggs (before they begin to Sit) 

 which are of a Pale Greenish Blew colour, and full of Black 

 Spots. The Flesh is unwholsom, because they feed upon 

 dead Bodies, yet the Ashes given for two or three Days to- 

 gether, cures the Epilepsy and Gout. The Brain performs 

 the same thing, the Grease, Blood and Eggs, make the Hair 

 Black. The Eggs help the Spleen, but cause Abortion. 



The Rooks are less in Carolina than in Europe. They are 

 good Food when Young (because they never feed on Carrion) 

 but their Skins are tough, Black and bitter. They a\'e very 

 great Enemies to Corn Fields, if there be not care taken to 

 prevent them. They build their ISTests after the same manner 

 as the Rooks with us do, but differ much in their Cry or 

 ISTotes, which are more like the barking of a Dog, than that 

 of Rooks. And it is said that when Books build, one of the 

 Pair always sit to watch the !Nest until it be finished ; other- 

 wise if both go abroad, and leave the unfinished Nest, the 

 other Rooks rob it, and carry the Sticks away to their own; 

 hence perhaps the Word Rooking is used for Cheating. 



The 



