of North Carolina. 203 



than the former, are not so large, but their Flesh and Feath- 

 ers are as valuable. And it is observable, that neither these 

 nor the other have the black piece of horny Flesh down the 

 Head and Bill as those in Europe have. The Grease or Fat 

 cleanses the Face from M or phew, and other Vices, and their 

 Oil helps the Gout. 



The Wild Geese, whereof there are three Sorts, but differ 

 very little from each other, only in their Size, having black 

 Heads and K^ecks. They are plenty here all the Winter, 

 come and go with the Swans, and commonly feed with them ; 

 they eat as well as those in Europe, being nourishing, though 

 hard of digestion, and are apt to breed Agiies in cold weakly 

 Constitutions; The Oil or Grease is exceeding hot, and of 

 thin Parts, piercing and disolving. It cures Baldness, helps 

 Deafness, pain and noise in the Ears, is good against Palsies, 

 Lameness, i^umbness. Cramps, pains and contractions of the 

 Sinews, and many other Disorders. The Dung is used Avith 

 success in the Jaundice, Scurvy, Dropsy, and Gout. The 

 green Dung gathered in the Spring, and gently dried, is best. 



The Grey Barnets, or Barnacles, are in shape like the Wild 

 Geese, of an Ash and dark grey colour, something less than 

 the common Goose, with which they agi'ee in Mature and 

 Virtues. They are very plenty in this Province all the 

 Winter, at which time they are fat and eat extraordinary 

 well ; there is no difference between them and the Barnacles 

 in Europe. Some writers assure us, that they breed unnat- 

 urally of the Leaves or Apples of certain Trees in the Islands 

 in Scotland; others, on the contrary affirm, that they are pro- 

 duced from Eggs hatched after the same manner as Geese 

 Eggs are, which we are intire Strangers to here, because they 



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