202 The Natural Histoid 



are of a dark grey Colour. They are frequently to be met 

 with amongst the Cranes, they make a clattering i^oise with 

 their Bills, by the quick and frequent striking one Chap 

 against the other. It is reported by several Persons whom I 

 have conversed with, that they are to be found in no part of 

 America but in this Province. They feed on Frogs, Snails, 

 and many other sorts of Insects. The Plesh nourishes as 

 that of the Herons and Bitterns, and the other Parts of this 

 Fowl have the same Virtues with them. 



The Sivans, whereof there are two sorts. The first are 

 called the Trumpeters, from a trumpeting sort of noise they 

 make, and are the largest sort of Siuan>s in these parts. They 

 come here in the Winter, and remain with us 'till February, 

 in such great Flocks, that I never saw more of any Water- 

 fowl in all my Travels than of them, for at that Season, 

 they are in such vast Numbers on each side of the fresh 

 Water Rivers and Creeks, that at a distance it seems to be 

 Land covered with Snow. About Christmas they are fre- 

 quently so fat, that some of them are scarce able to fly. In 

 Spring they go to the Northern Lakes to breed. I have sev- 

 eral times eat of them, and do prefer them before any Goose, 

 for the goodness and delicacy of their Meat, and especially 

 a Cyg7iet, or last years Sivan. These Swans are larger than 

 any I have seen in Europe. Their Quills and Feathers are 

 in great request amongst the Planters. As to their Flesh 

 and Parts, they have the same Virtues with that of the Geese. 



The Hoopers are a second sort of Siuans, and are so called, 

 from a hooping IN^oise they make. This sort are as numerous 

 as the former, and come to these parts, and go at the sam^ 

 time that they do ; yet the latter abide more in the Salt Water 



than 



