AM 



A P P E 



VI. \ 



TO THE 



Containing 



Such Birds as w fufpeB for fabulous, or fuch as are too briefly and 

 unaccurately dejcribed to giye us a. fuU and fufficient knowledge 

 of them, taken out of Franc. Hernandez efpeci 



3*5 



Of the foolifi Sparrow. 



\ His Bird is defervedly famous for its notable folly. It is not afraid 

 •of them that go to catch it, but fits dill with a great deal of con- 

 fidence till they lay their hands upon it, not offering to flyaway, 

 but only feeming to wonder what they intend to do. It is a Sea- 

 fowl, and feeds upon fifti. It hath the cry of a Jay j is of the big- 

 nefs of a Mag-pie, of the fhape and colour of the Gull, excepting 

 that part of the forehead next the Bill, which is cinereous ; whole- 

 : footed. Is Bill is three inches long, (lender, round, and ilreight, 

 only a little crooked near the tip : Its Legs and Feet (which are like thofe of other 

 whole-footed Birds ) black .* Its Pupil is alfo black, but the membrane about the Pu- 

 pil grey. 



The tamenefs of the Birds of the Ifland Ccrne is well known and celebrated. They 

 alight upon the heads and fhoulders of the Mariners that go afhore there, as it were 

 upon trees, and fuffer themfelves without difficulty to be caught, coming readily to 

 hand. 



Of the Bird called Daie laying great Eggs. 



"HeBird called £Xz/'e is remarkable for the extraordinary and unufual nature or 

 manner of its Eggs and Young. It is not bigger than a Pigeon, and tolerable 

 good meat. For its Neft it fcrapes a hole with its Feet and Tail in fandy grounds four 

 fpans deep ; where when the rains fall it lays its Eggs, ( which are bigger tbanGoofe- 

 eggs, almoft as broad as ones fift, called by the Natives Tapun) fifty or more in num- 

 ber, being of agrofsand fat fubftance, without any Yolk in them, which roafted or 

 boiled are good wholfom food, but fried * tough, bad,and of hard concoftion. * Coarfc ' 



It is very ftrange [ more ftrange I dare fay than true] that fo little a Bird fhould lay 

 fo great Eggs, and fo many together, and in fuch deep vaults underground, and that 

 being there hidden they (hould be hatched without being ever fitten upon or che- 

 rifhed by the old ones, and that the Young once hatched fhould of themfelves pre- 

 fently fly away. 



I dare boldly jay that this Hijlory is altogether falfe and fabulous. For though feme 

 Birds lay very great Eggs (as for example, Puffins, Guillemots, Razor-bills, &c.~) fome 

 alfo buildin holes under ground. Tet fuch lay but one Egg, not a great ma?jy before they 

 ft. Neither do I think that there is any Bird in the world whofe Eggs want the white. 



Of the Guitguit that ft s upon Ravens. 



A Little body contains a great fpirit and courage. There is a very fmall Bird 

 (Guitguit the Indians cA\ it) like theffW,of a green colour, and fweet-tafted 

 flefh. Such is the wonderful force of nature, that this Bird, as little as it is, and 



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