60 A True and ExaB Htflory 



The Birds of this place (fetting two afidej are hardly worth the 

 pains of defcribing 5 yet, in order, as I did theBeafts, I will fetthem 

 down. The biggeft is a dired- Bullard , but fomewhat left than our 

 grey BulTards in EfjgUnd^ (bmewhat fwifter of wing , and the only 

 good they do, is,- fometimes to kill the Rats. The next to him in big- 

 nels, is the larger Turtle Dove, and of them, there is great ftore in 

 thelfland .• 'tis a much handfomer bird, both in fliapeandcolour.than 

 ours in England^ and is very good meat. Next to her is the Jefler 

 Turtle, a far finer bird than (he, but of a contrary ftape^ for this is of 

 the (hape of a Partridge, but her plumidge gray , and a red brown 

 under the wings j a pretier bird I do not know, of fo few glorious co- 

 lours 3 her tune like the other. The next is a bird like a Thrufh, of a 

 melancholly look, her feathers never fmooth, but alwayes ruffled, as 

 if (he were mewing, her head down, her (houldersup, as if her neck 

 were broke. This bird has for three or four notes, the loudeft and 

 fweeteft, that ever I heard 5 if (he had variety , certainly no bird 

 could go beyond her , fhe looks alwayes , as if (he were (ick or 

 melancholly.^' 



Another there is, not much unlike a Wren, butbigasaThruQi^ and 

 this is as merry and jolly, as the other is lad 5 and as (he fits on a ftick, 

 jets, and lifts up her train, looking with fo earned: and merry a coun- 

 tenance, as ififae would invite you to come to her, and will fit till 

 you come very near her. This bird I never heard fing. fhe next is 

 a Black-bird, with white eyes, and that fo ill becomes her, as flie is ac- 

 counted an unhandfome bird , her voice harfh, fomewhat like our 

 Jay m England^ they go in great flocks , and are harmful birds, for 

 they are great devourersof corn, andblolToms of trees, and the Plan- 

 ters wifh them deftroyed, though they know not which way. They 

 are a kind of Stares , for they walk , and do not hop as other birds. 

 One thing { obferve in the(c birds , which I never (aw in any but 

 them, and that is, when they fly, they put their train into feveralpo- 

 (tures^one while they keep itltraight, as other birds ilbmetimes they 

 turn it edge- way es, as the tail of afilh, and by and by put it three 

 fquare, Vv'ith the covering feather a top, and the fides downwards. 

 The next is of the colour of a Feldefare, but the head feeras too big 

 for her body, and for that realbn they call her a Counfellor 3 her fly- 

 ing is extream wanton , and for her tune , 'tis fuch as I have not heard 

 any like her, notfor thefweetnefs , but the ftrangenefi of it , for fhe 

 performs that with her voice, that no inftrument can play, nor no voice 

 fing, but hers 5 and that is, quarter notes , her (bng being com- 

 pofed of five tones, and every one a quarter of a note higher than 

 other. Mi*. Johr? Coprario^ a rare compofer of Mufick , and my dear 

 friend, told me once, that he was ftudyinga curiofity inmufick, that 

 no man had ever attempted to do 5 and that was, of quarter notes 5 

 but he not being able to go through with it, gave it over : But if he 

 had liv'd to have gone with mc to the Barbadoes^thisKitd fhould have, 

 taught him. Under this fize there are none confiderable , Sparrowes, 

 Ha}foeks3 Finches, Yellow Hamers, Titmicc^and divers others of that 

 (brt, for which I have no names. But the laft and ftrangcft ofall,is, 

 that which we call the humming bird, much iels than a Wren, not 



much 



