212 The Natural Historg 



Sea Slioar in the Banks, and sometimes on high Trees, as the 

 Shags do ; they are very strengthning to the Stomach, and 

 cure the Bloody Fhix. The Flesh is black, and hard of diges- 

 tion, therefore seldom made use of. 



The Shag is somewhat like the Cormorant, but mnch less ; 

 it differs in the colour of the Belly, which in this is blackish, 

 in the other white. It swims in the Sea with its Head erect, 

 and it's Body almost covered in the Water. It is so dextrous 

 in diving, that when a Gun is discharged at it, as soon as it 

 sees the Fire flash, immediately it pops under Water, so that 

 it is a hard matter to shoot them. I have never known or 

 heard of any Webb-footed Birds but this, and the Sumtner- 

 Ducks that sit upon Trees, and build their ^ests in them. 

 The Flesh is black, ill-tasted, and hard of digestion, being 

 much of the same N^ature with the Cormorant. 



The Gannet is a very large white Fowl, having one part of 

 it's Wings black. It lives on Fish, as the Pelican and Cormo- 

 rant do ; it is reported, that their Fat or Grease (which is as 

 yellow as Saffron) is the best thing known to preserve Fire- 

 Arms from Rust. The Flesh is of a bad Taste, and scarcely 

 good for Food or Physick. 



The Shear-Water, is a longer Fowl than a Dud', but has a 

 much smaller Body. They are of a brownish Colour, and for 

 the most part upon the Wing, like the Swallow: There are 

 vast Quantities of them on several parts of these Sea Coasts 

 (whilst others range the Seas all over) for they are some- 

 times met with five hundred Leagues from Land. I have 

 frequently observed them to strike down u]^on a Sea-rack, or 

 Weed that grows in the Gulf of Florida, which is plentifully 

 to be met with in these Seas. It hath many winding Stalks, 



which 



