( ^3 ) 



THETINAMOUS 



PARTAKES much ofthebutVard and partridge. But whereas thefc 

 Europt-an birds never perch on trees, thofe which refemble them 

 in America perch; and even many of the web-footed kinds (which ia 

 Europe is never feen) : for though they frequent the water in the day- 

 time, they return to rood on trees at nighr. To this they are prompted 

 by necefiity, as v/eil to avoid jaguars and beads of prey, as ferpents, 

 and the innumerable hofts ofinfcdts which fwarm in thofe countries. The 

 ants alone compofe immenfe columns, and wou'd quickly devour any 

 young birds they could envelope during their deep: certain quails which 

 live on the ground are often fwallowcd by ferpents. Perhaps thefc quails 

 are new-comers, and hereafter may improve in carefulnefs. 



The tinamous is rften called partridge by the colonics : but has a 

 flender bill, long, foft at its cxtrem.ity, black above, white below ; 

 r.Ourils oblong, placed toward the middle of the biilj the nind toes 

 fhort; nails long, large, and hollow; fcec fcaly ; wings ftiorr. They 

 perch upon trees during nighr, fjmetimes during day ; never fcek greac 

 trees, cr high branches. Are of white fiefii, good to eat, feed on fruits, 

 or coffee- berries. Scratch a hole for their nefts, lay many eggs, fly hea- 

 vily, but run fwiftly; the female exceeds the male m fize, ^^hich in 

 Europe is peculiar to birds of prey. There arc many varieties ; one 

 equal to a pheafant in fize. They live in woods. A fmail kind neftlcs 

 p trees among the low branches. 



THE TURKEY, 



WITH us, when your^g, is the tendereft of binis ; yet wild, it is 

 found in plenty among the forefts of Canada, where they go 

 in troops of hundreds : much larger than in their (lace of domcilicity, and- 

 more beautiful ; their feathers being dark grey, bordered on the edt^es with 

 bright gold colour. • The Indians hunt them with a dog, which, when 

 they firlt difcover, they leave far behind : he follows, fenfiblc they muft 

 foon be tired, as they cannot go full fpeed long; and at laft, forces them 

 to take fneker in a tree, where they fit quite fpent and fatigued, till the 

 hunter comes up, and, with a long pole, knocks them down: if one 

 is lliot, the others never attempt an efcape, or take warning. 

 Part IV. No. 25. E Stupid 



