148 April 1749. 



have feen in feveral places little houfes made 

 of boards, and fixed on the outfide of the 

 walls, on purpofe that thefe Martins may 

 make their nefts in them ; for the people 

 are very defirous of having them near their 

 houfes, becaufe they both drive away hawks 

 and crows as foon as they fee them, and 

 alarm the poultry by their anxious note, of 

 the approach of their enemies. The 

 chickens are likevvife ufed to run under 

 fhelter, as foon as they are warned by the 

 Martins. 



April the 17th. The Dirca palujlris, 

 or Moufe-wood, is a little fhrub which 

 grows on hills, towards fwamps and mar- 

 ines, and was now in full bloffom. The 

 Engli/h in Albany call it Leather-wood, 

 becaufe its bark is as tough as leather. 

 The French in Canada call it Bois de 

 Plomb, or Leaden-wood, becaufe the wood 

 itfelf is as foft and as tough as lead. The 

 bark of this fhrub was made ufe of for 

 ropes, bafkets, &c. by the Indians, whilft 

 they lived among the Swedes. And it is 

 really very fit for that purpofe, on account 

 of its remarkable ftrength and toughnefs, 

 which is equal to that of the Lime-tree 

 bark. The Engli/h and the Dutch in many 

 parts of North America, and the French 

 in Canada, employ this bark in all cafes, 



where 



