BookIii. o^yciTHOLogr. yj 



be called * Trochilus terrefiris j (for there are alfo other Water-Trochili likewifeof '»*>.• The 

 the Hen-kind) fith it is of the fame f common kind, and runs fwiftly, whence the ¥&£*****■ 

 Grecians gave it that name 5 howbeit fome do call that very fmalibird the Regulus alfo 

 by the name of Trochilus. This Bird runs Very fwiftly through (hrubs, and fome* 

 times leaps tideways. It flies ill, and with great difficulty rail'es itfelf from the ground 

 up into the Air. So he. And in his Epitomy again he names it, the Land-Trochilus or 

 Land-Rail, to difference it from that which lives about Waters, and adds, that Bello- 

 nius his Land-Rail is another bird. About the Lago magvjore ( fo he goes on ) fome 

 call it Pol/e, which is as much as a Pullet or Hen, by a name too general. The Ger- 

 man Fowlers call it, Eggenfehar, Heggefchar, and Hegefar, becaule they run in com- 

 panies near hedges, where they are found after Hay-riarve'ft". For the Germans call 

 a hedge Hegga, or Haga, and a flock or troup Schara: Or perchance becaufe they dig 

 the earth about hedges, for the word Scharren with us (ignifies to dig or fCrape with 

 the feet, as Hens are wont : Which whether or no thefe birds do is to me uncertain. 

 There are fome who call it periphraftically, Ein grojje wajjer Hunk, that is, a great 

 Water-hen. This Bird he thus briefly dejcribes. It is thick and Ihort-bodied, aad 

 fhaped otherwife like its Picture, [ of which he there gives a draught, ] fcarceany 

 bird hath longer Toes for its bignefs. The hind-toe alfo is about half as long as the 

 fore ones. The colours I do not well remember, but I think their Legs were greenilh. 

 The Back and Wings from a reddifh colour inclined to brown. Its note ( as they fay ) 

 isharfh, Ger,ger,ger, fomething like a Serpents. And therefore it is alfo taken by 

 Fowlers imitating its voice by a knife drawn through dry wood. But whereas he 

 faith, that the Englifi, accounting it a very delicate bird, ufe feveral fnares and de- 

 vices to catch it among the ftanding corn, he was certainly deceived by a fake relati- 

 on i for that England neither breeds nor feeds any fuch bird befides the Land and 

 Water-Rail. 



§. X. 



The Brazilian Water-hen, called Jacanai 



> 



THis raoft elegant Bird is of the bignefs of a Dove, but hath much longer Legs, oatdf mrg- 

 of a yellow colour mixt with green. The lower Legs are more than two gtavu 

 inches long 5 the upper ( for the greateft part bare, as in Water-birds ) a little lefs. It 

 hath four Toes in each foot, the middle of thofe three which ftand forward two 

 inches long, the other two a little fhorter 5 the fourth or back-toe a foot or more 

 long 3 all armed with yellow Claws, half an inch long. Its Tail is fhort like a Water- 

 hens. The feathers on the Back, Wings, and Belly are mingled of green and black : 

 Thofe under the Tail white : Thofe near the Neck, and on the whole Neck and 

 Breaft of the fame colour with the feathers that are feen on the Necks of Peacocks 

 and fome Pigeons. It hath a fmall Head like a Water-hen, covered with a certain round 

 membranous tegument, of the colour of a Turcois ftone. Its Bill is {freight, like a 

 Hens, above an inch long, from the beginning to the middle of a rare* fcarlet colour, * or red-lead 

 the remaining part being of an excellent yellow, wherewith fomething of green is coIour ' 

 mixt. It is very frequent every where in the fenny places or Marifh grounds of BraJiL 

 Its flefh is edible, but not mucfrvalued. 



_ $. XI. 



The Brazilian Water-hen, called Aguapecaca. 



TTis in bignefs equal, and in fhapelike to the precedent, but different and inferiouf 

 to it in colour. Its feathers on the Back are like thofe of the former 3 the Wings 

 browner. It wants the Cap or Miter on the Head, and hath in each Wing on the in- 

 fide affreight horn or fpur, wherewith it defends it fel£ 



f. XII. 



