198 The Natural History 



secret Places, Natural Historians are not agreed, nor can they 

 certainly determine. They constantly come to these parts 

 in the beginning of March, and one or two are generally seen 

 hovering in the Air for a Day or two before any large Flocks 

 of them appear. 



The second sort is near as large as our Black-hird, they 

 have white Throats and Breasts, black Beaks and Wings. 

 The Planters are very fond of preserving them, and fre- 

 quently tye a number of Gourds on long standing Poles near 

 their Dwellings, on purpose for them to breed in, because 

 they are a warlike Bird, and beat the Crows, and many other 

 kinds of Birds much larger than themselves from their Plan- 

 tations. One morning, very early, I espied a Snake crawl- 

 ing up one of these Poles, with a design to destroy the 

 Young ones or Eggs in these Gourds, and it was surprizing 

 to see with what eagerness the Martins fought with the 

 Snake, which still approached nearer the Gourds. Seeing 

 the Birds in this Distracted manner endeavouring to preserve 

 their Species, I had the Curiosity to come near the Pole, 

 where I observed the approaches the Snake still made to 

 procure it's Prey. I immediately got a long hollow Reed 

 and killed the Snake (which was one of the Chicken-Snal'es, 

 wdiereof I have already made mention) and placed it near the 

 Pole, which the Martins still attacked, and would not be 

 pacified 'till it was conveyed from the Place. 



The Wren is scarce, and seldom to be met with, but is the 

 same in size, Feathers and ^otes, as in Europe. This small 

 Bird builds it's E'est in the Moss on Trees, it lays ^ine or 

 Ten, and sometimes more Eggs at a sitting : It is wonderfi.l 

 strange, that a Bird with so small a Body, should cover such 

 a 'N'umber of Eggs, or that it should feed so many Yoimg, 

 and not miss one of them. The Flesh is said to help the 

 stoppage of Urine, and to have the same Virtues witli the 

 Sparrow. 



The 



