7+ 



1 





Fowls in 

 Xtw Tor*, 



of M E <KI C A. Chap. II. 



Gout, Lamcnefs, Belly and Tooth«ach, Rhumes, Poyfon, and the Evil. But <PUny 

 makes a great miftake Jicrein, for the Beavers have a fmall PiiTel faften'd to their 

 Back-bone, in fuch a manner, that they cannot loofc them but with hazard of their 

 lives : They live in the Water, and on the Shore, in great companies together, in 

 "Nefts built of Wood, which deferve no fmall admiration, being made after this 

 manner : The Beavers firft gather all the loofe Wood, which they find along the 

 Banks of the Rivers, of which, if there be not enough, they bite the Bark off from 

 the Trees in the neighboring Woods, then with their Tusks, of which two grow 

 above, and two below in their Mouths, they gnaw the main body of the Tree fo 

 long, till it drops afunder : Their Nefts very artificial, arc fix Stories high, cover'd 

 on the top with Clay to keep out Rain-; in the middle is a paffage which goes to 

 the River, into which they run fo foon as they perceive a Man ; to which purpofe 

 one of them ftands Sentinel, and in the Winter keeps open the Water from freez- 

 ing, by continual moving of his Tail, which is flat without Hair, and the moft 

 delicious Meat that can be had. The Beavers go big fixteen Weeks, and once a 

 year bring forth four young, which fuck and cry like young Children , for the 

 Dam of them rifes on her hinder Feet, and gives her Teats, which grow between 

 the fore-legs to two of her young, each of them one ; the foremoft legs of a Beaver 

 rcfemblc thofeofaDog, the hindermoft thpfe of aGoofe - on each fide of the vent 

 are two fwellings within two thin Skins • out of their vent runs generally an Oily 

 moyfture, with which they anoint all the parts of their body which they can reach, 

 to keep them from bein£ wet; within they are like a cut-up Hog; they live on the 

 Leaves and Barks of Trees ; they love their young ones exceedingly ; the long 

 Hairs, which mining, (tick out on the back, fall off in Summer, and grow again 

 againft Harveft; they have fliort Necks, ftrong Sinews and Legs, and move very 

 fwiftly in the Water, and on the Land ; if incompafs'd by Men or Dogs, they bite 

 moft feverely • the right Casloreumfo highly efteem'd by Phyficians, is a long Vefica, 

 not unlike a Pear,within the body of the female Beaver, the Indians mince the Cods 

 of the Male Beavers amongft their Tobacco, becaufe they produce ho Caftoreunu 



This Country abounds alfo with Fowls . for befides Hawks, Kites, and other 

 Birds of Prey, there are abundance of Cranes, of feveral forts, fomc grey, feme 

 brown,others quite white ; all of them have firm Bodies, and Bones withoutMar- 

 row, Claws of a finger long, ftrong and crooked Bills, their Brains dry, their Eyes 

 little and hollow, hard Features, the left Foot lefler than the right, both deform'd, 

 their Blood thick, and the Excrements of a horrid fmcll ; they breed moft in old 

 Woods, whofe ground is without Brambles, and alfo near the Water, for they 

 feed on Fiflh, and devour all forts of Fowls, nay, fnatch up Hares, Rabbets, Tor- 

 tels, and feveral other forts of Animals, which they carry away with them in the 

 Air ; nay, when hungry, they feize on one anorher ; fome of them fly abroad for 

 their prey about noon, others at Sun-rifing ; they fall like Lightning on what e're 

 they purfue ; they drink little, except the Blood of thofe Creatures whkh they de- 

 vour; they are very libidinous, coupling above thirty times a day!, not only with 

 their like, but alfo with the Hens of Hawks, and other Birds . they lay their bicr- 

 geft Eggs in thirty days, and the lefler in twenty days ; they generally bring forth 

 three young; thofe of them that cannot endure to look full againft the Sun, are 

 thrown out of their Nefts ; the young ones when they begin to be fledg'd, are by 

 the old carry'd into the Air, and let flic, but fupported by them ; their fight is 

 wonderful quick ; for though they flie as high as ever they are able to be difcern'd, 

 yet they can fee the leaft Fifti that is in the Water, and a Hare lying in the Bufhes: 

 their Breath ftinks horribly , wherefore their Carcafes fuddenly rot; though they 



are 



