of North Carolina. 201 



these Parts would perswade me, that they become the same 

 Colour with the common Heron, when they are a Year old, 

 which I am not apt to believe, but look upon them as a dis- 

 tinct Species from any of the former. All these sorts are 

 plenty in these part of America, and have the same slow flight 

 as those with us. They feed on Fish, Frogs, &c., and 

 like the Rooks, build their Xests in high Trees, and gen- 

 erally many together. Their Flesh is better than that of 

 the Crane, but best when young, and eaten by many. The 

 Bill in Powder, causeth Sleep, the Grease is Anodyne, eases 

 Pains, and has much the same Properties with the Bitterns. 



The Crane is a large bodied Fowl, weighing sometimes 

 above ten Pounds. It's Xeck and Legs are long, being five 

 Foot high when extended. The Head is black, with a fine 

 crimson Spot on the CroT\Ti of it, the rest of the Body is of 

 a Cream colour; they frequent the Savannas, Marshes, and 

 low Grounds, and though they are Water-fowl, yet it is 

 thought that they do not feed on Fish, but only on Herbs, 

 Grain, and several sorts of Seeds and Insects. They are 

 easily bred up tame, and are good in Gardens to destroy 

 Frogs, Worms, and other Yermine. The Inhabitants boil 

 their Flesh, which is tough and hard of Digestion, but makes 

 good Broath. Their Quills make good Pens, and the Feath- 

 ers serve for other uses. The Indians eat their Eggs, which 

 have a strong smell, are hard of Digestion, and of an unpleas- 

 ant taste. The Gall is good against Palsies, Consumptions, 

 Blindness and Deafness. The Fat or Grease helps all hard- 

 ness, being of the l^ature of Goose-grease. They flie with 

 the Wind, make a great x^oise, run fast, and are said to live 

 about forty Years. 



The Storlces are a larger Fowl than the former, and of the 

 same Shape, only their ^ecks are thicker and shorter, and 



Cc are 



