192 The Natural History 



The Throstles are of the same bigness and Feather with 

 those in Europe, but are not to be admired for their warbling 

 J^otes, as ours are, for I have seldom heard them sing. These 

 Birds are very fat in the Winter, and are good eating. Being 

 roasted with Myrtle-henies, they help most sorts of Fluxes. 

 The Throstle is called in Latin, Berhiacenfis, from Berhia- 

 cum, a Village near Verona in Italy, being there first seen at 

 the Battle between Otho and Yitelus, where the former was 

 overcome. 



The WJiipoo-will, is a Bird so called, from it's frequent 

 and exact repeating those !Notes or Words. These Birds are 

 about the bigness of a Thrush, and are hard to be seen, 

 although they be heard never so plain, for they constantly 

 run under Thickets and Bushes where they hide themselves, 

 and call their Xotes. They are scarce in this Province, and 

 seldom to be met with to the Southward of it; but in Vir- 

 ginia and other Provinces to the ]S[orthward, they are very 

 plenty in most of the Plantations, and are tolerable good 

 eating. 



The Jays are here very common, but more beautiful and 

 finer Feathered than those in Europe, for these are Blue, 

 where ours are Brown, and not above half as large, but have 

 the same Cry, and sudden jetting Motion. They are mis- 

 chievous in devouring the Fruits of the Country, and com- 

 monly spoil more than they eat. The Flesh of these Birds 

 are much better Nourishment than any of the same sort in 

 Europe, where they are commonly eaten by the poorer sort 

 of People, and especially in France, but are seldom made use 

 of in these parts of America, where large Fowl are so plenty. 



The Kill-Deer, is a Bird in these parts, so called, from it's 

 frequent repeating those Words. It is about the bigness of 

 our Redshank, and of the same colour, and frequents the 

 Banks and River sides, as the former. These Birds continue 



here 



