14 willughby's flam antes. [1690. 



Til ere is notliing more to be said of the Isle of Salt. We 

 found some Cow-dung there, but could see no Cows; and all 

 the Birds we met with were Sparrows, they are like ours 

 except in their size, for they are not half so big. 



We must not forget the tine Shells that are spread over all 

 the Coast, the variety of them is Charming, and I never saw 

 any in any other Place so beautiful as here ; they are certainly 

 the work of an excellent Workman. The shineing of the 

 Enameling, the mixture and diversity of the Colours, the 

 Forui, the Delicacy, the Symmetry, every thing Charms, 

 and raises in us a just Admiration of the Great Creator. I 

 was bound for the hiclies, the Antipodes, I did not know 

 whether ; for Desert Islands from whence I thought I should 

 never return : And my Head being full of such Thoughts, I 

 could not amuse my self to gather Shells ; but had I touch'd 

 at this Island when I came back, I should certainly have 

 furnish'd my self plentifully with them. 



I must own, now it comes into my Mind, I was sorry that 

 as I walkt about the Island, I could not meet with any of 

 those great and beautiful Birds call'd Flamans, from Flam- 

 hoyans (Flaming), which by relation of Voyagers, are the 

 most considerable of the Place. 'Twas not only a simple 

 desire to see these Birds ; the greatest Pleasure I propos'd 

 to my self by it, was to compare the different draughts I had 

 of them with the Original ; For all that have describ'd them, 

 except Mr. Willoughhy, at least all the Authors (and they are 

 not a few in number), which I have seen who have spoke of 

 them, make the beak of these Birds like a Spatula or a Spoon, 

 whereas Mr. Willougliby designs them with a sharp Beak. 



This curious Naturalist adds, that he believes these Birds 

 had the name of Flamantcs^ given them, rather on account 



1 " On y voit beaucoup de gros & de menu detail, & particulierement 

 des boucs : les Isles du Mai, de Bonue-vue & du Sel, en fournissant 

 assez pour charger des vaisseaux qu'on envoie an Bresil. 



" II u'y a pas une moindre abondance de volatiles, comme de poules de 

 Barbaric, perdrix, cailles, alouettes, & une sorte d'oiseaux que les For- 



