of North Carolina. 211 



and Epilepsies, the Heart is sometimes dryed and hnng about 

 the jS^eck of Children for the same Disorders. 



The Pelican in Carolina is a large Water-Fowl, being five 

 Feet in length, from the point of the Bill to the end of the 

 Tail, and almost equal in bigness to a Swan. It has a long 

 thick Neck and Beak, and a great natural Wen or Pouch 

 under the Throat, in which it keeps it's Prey of Fish, which 

 it lives upon. This Pouch it will sometimes contract and 

 draw up to the Bill, that it is scarce to be seen. It is a Web- 

 footed Fowl, like a Goose, but shaped more like a Duck, and 

 of a light grey Colour. The Flesh is seldom eaten, having a 

 strong fishy taste, and hard of digestion; but being well 

 boiled, maketh good Broth, and the Planters make handsom 

 Tobacco-Pouches of it's ]\Iaw. They are plentifully to be met 

 with in the Wintei^ Season, especially near the Sounds and 

 Sea Shoars. In Spring they go into the Woods to breed, and 

 return again in Autumn. They have an odd kind of Xote, 

 much like the Braying of an Ass, and are reported to live to 

 a great Age, viz. sixty Years or upwards. They are said to 

 be white in Guinea, and St. Jerom saith, that there are two 

 sorts of them in Egypt, viz. the Land and Water Pelican. 

 The Gall of this Bird cleanses Silver. 



The Cormorants are the same as in Europe, only those of 

 this Province are larger. They are as numerous all over 

 these Parts of America, as in any part of the World, espe- 

 cially at the run of the Herrings, which is in March and 

 April; at which time they are seen sitting upon the Sand 

 Banks, or Logs of Wood in the Rivers, and catch vast quanti- 

 ties of Fish, which is their only Food, and whereof they are 

 very ravenous and gTeedy. They lay their Eggs in the begin- 

 ning of the Spring, in the Islands, in the Sound, and near the 



Sea 



