3 g<5 An zITTEHVtX- 



next to nothing, dares fet upon and purfue whole flocks of Ravens, and forces them 

 to hide themfelves from it, and to take fhelter among the Reeds. 



Ifuppofe that thisjlory is feigned in imitation of what the Ancients have delivered con- 

 terningtheVften, viz., that with great courage [indeed fool-har dine fs~\ fie dares enter 

 combat with *£e Eagle* 



Of the Bird called Maia. 



THere is another fort of fmall Birds, efpecially in the ftland Cuba, that fly iri 

 flocks, and wafte the fields or plantations of Rice, ( which grain grows abun- 

 dantly, and is of muchufe in thofe Countries ) called Maia, of a fulvous colour, its 

 flefh pleafant, of eafie conco&ion, and yielding a plentiful nourishment : Whofe 

 Stomach, ( or rather Craw) and firft receptacle of nouriihment, is on the back fide 

 of the Neck : A wonderful and lingular thing, of which there is not another inftance 

 in nature. 



Of the Yayauhcruitotl or long-tail 'd Bird. 



THere proceed from the end of the Tail [of Rump] of this Bird two feathers 

 longer than the reft, below naked, without any lateral hair-like bodies, adorn- 

 ed at the tips with blue and black Vanes. The body of the Bird is as big as a Stares, 

 particoloured of blue, green, fulvous, and grey. Perchance this may be the fame Bird 

 which Marggrave hath accurately defcribed under the title of Guira-guainumbi. 



Of another fort of Xochitemcaxl, that is the Toucan or Braftlian Pie. 



T His Bird breeds and feeds on the (bores of the Southern America, being of the 

 bignefs of a Pigeon, with a thick, (harp-pointed, black Bill, black Eyes, and 

 a yellow Iris. The Wings and Tail are particoloured of black and white, a black 

 lift reaching from theBill to the very end of the Breaft, yet is there fome yellow about 

 the forepart of the Wings. The reft of the body generally is of a pale colour, ex- 

 cepting the Feet and Legs, which are brown, and the Claws, which from white in- 

 cline fomewhat to a pale yellow. It lives about flowring trees, feeding upon the 

 honey it fucks out of their flowers. It breeds its Young in the Spring, and is much 

 efteemedby the Tototepecenfes, in whofe Country it is very frequent. 



Of the Bird called Momot. 



THis abides and delights in hot Countries. It is of the bignefs of a Dove $ hath 

 fcarlet-coloured Eyes, with a black Pupil : A crooked, blackifti Bill, almoft 

 three inches long, (harp-pointed,, the nether Chap fhorter, the upper ferrate : A blue 

 Head, like a Peacocks i brown Feet, the reft of the body green. What is rare and 

 extraordinary in this Bird is, that it hath in its Tail one quil longer than the reft, and 

 which is feathered only at the end, [This is, I dare fay, more fir ange than true : For 

 the Tails of all Birds lever yetfaw have their feathers growing by pairs, that is, two of a 

 fort, on each fide one,~] and that fo beautiful a Bird fhould be of no ufe, but for its 

 feathers. 



• Of the Verminous Bird or Tuputa. 



THis Bird feems to be of a ftrange nature, as we gather from its note, from 

 which it took its name Tuputa? but it is, and defervedly, more famous for its 

 Angular putrefaction. For while it is living it is wholly ftuft with worms inftead of 

 flefh, all its members and mufcles being full of them. Nothing of flefh befides thele 

 and the skin. Yet they do not eat or make their way through the skin,which is ador- 

 ned with thick-fet feathers. It abides among Sedge, and in graflie places. For fhape 

 of body it is like a Pheafant, but lefler. 



What is here delivered concerning this Bird, ifunderfiood generally of all the indivi- 

 duals of this fort we are fo confident to be falfe, that we thinks it needlefs to fiend time in 

 the confuting of it. This however we thought ft tofignife to the Reader, left he fhould ima- 

 gine we gave any credit to thefiory. 



Of 



