Chap. II. a M E%^1C A. 



are libidinous, yet they live long •, moft of them die of hunger, becaufe their Bills 

 when they grow old, grow fo crooked, that they cannot open the fame, where- 

 fore they flie up into the Air againft the Sun , and falling into the coldeft Rivers, 

 loofe their Feathers and die. 



Befides the foremention'd Birds of prey, there are abundance of Storks, Ravens, 

 Crows, Owls, Swallows, Gold-finches, Ice-birds, Kites, Quails, Phcafants, and 

 Winter -%jngs y and which are moft remarkable for their rich Feathers, the Spechtes, 

 they pick great holes in Trees, and make a noife as if a Man were cutting down a 

 Tree. The Pigeons flie in fuch flocks, that the Indians remove with them to the 

 place where they make their Nefts,where the young ones being taken by hundreds, 

 ferve them for a Moneths Provifion. 



Moreover, TS^ew York breeds.a ftrange Bird about a Thumb long, full of gli- 

 ttering Feathers $ it lives by fucking of Flowers like a Bee , and is fo tender , that 

 it immediately dies if water be fpirted upon it 5 the Carcafe being dry'd, is kept 

 for a Rarity. 



But this Countrey abounds chiefly inTurkies, whofe plenty deferves no lefs 

 admiration than their bulk, and the delicious tafte of their Fle(h,for they go feeding 

 forty or fifty in a flock, and weigh fometime forty or fifty pound apiece ; the Na- 

 tives either flioot them, or take them with a Bait ftuck on an Angle : In March and 

 Harveft the Waters fwarm with Geefe, Teal, Suites, Ducks, and Pelicans, befides 

 many ftrange forts of Fowls not known in Europe. 



The Rivers and Lakes produce Sturgeon, Salmon, Carps, Pearch, Barbils,aU 

 forts of Eels, and many other Fifli which are taken near Watcr.falls : The Sea af- 

 fords Crabs with and without Shells, Sea-cocks, and Horfes, Cod, Whiting,Ling, 

 Herrings, Mackrel, Flounders, Tar-buts, Tortels, and Oyfters, of which fome are 

 a Foot long, and have Pearl, but are % little brownifh. 



Amongft the Poyfonous Creatures which infeft New Tork, the chicfeft and moft 

 dangerous is the G(attle -Snake , whofe defcription we have already had at large in 

 Ne1>> England. 



The Inhabitants have their Hair black as Jet , harfh like Horfe-hair ; they are 

 broad Shouldered, fmall Wafted, brown Ey'd, their Teeth exceeding white j with 

 Water they chiefly quench their Thirft : Their general Food is Flefli,Fifli,and Indian 

 Wheat, which ftamp'd, is boyl'd to a Pap, by them call'd Satfaen : They obferve 

 no fet time to Eat, but when they have an Appetite their Meals begin. Beavers 

 Tails are amongft them accounted a great Dainty : When they go to Hunt, they 

 live fevcral days on parch' d Corn, which they carry in little Bags ty'd about their 

 middle j a little of that faid Corn thrown into Water fwells exceedingly. 



Henry Hud/on relates, That Sailing in the River Montains, in forty Degrees, he 

 faw the Indians make ftrange Geftures in their Dancing and Singing, he obferv'd 

 farther, that they carry'd Darts pointed with fliarp Stones, Sodder'd to the Wood; 

 that they flept under the Sky on Mats or Leaves 5 took much Tobacco, and very 

 ftrong . and that though courteous and friendly, they were very Thieves. He 

 Sailing thirty Leagues further, went in his Boat to an old Indian Commander of 

 forty Men and feventeen Women, who conducted him to the Shore, where they all 

 dwelt in one Houfe, artificially built of the Barks of Oak-trees ; round about it 

 lay above three Ships load of Corn, and Indian Beans to dry, befides the Plants 

 which grew in the Fields. Mo fooner had Hudfon enter'd the Houfe , but he was 

 receiv'd on two Mats fpread on the ground ; and two Men immediately were fent 

 out to flioot Venifon or Fowls ; and inftantly returning, brought two Pigeons ; a 

 fat Dog, whom they nimbly flea'd with fliells, was alfo laid down to the fire.: 



W 



Pigeons.' 



Pretty Birds.' 



Turlries. 



Filh. 



Rjmh Sn*kf' 



Conftituti- 

 on of the In- 

 habitants. 



Their Diet: 



HuAfon\ 

 adventures 

 remarkable. 



