to Mortk* America. %f 



ther up the Lake, in Company with feme Canadefe, 

 on purpofe to fee that Fowl flap with its Wings. 

 Believe me, Sir, this fight is one of the greateft Cu- 

 riofities in the World ; for their flapping makes a 

 noife much like that of a Drum all about, for the 

 fpaceof a Minute or thereabouts; then the noife 

 ceafes for half a quarter of an Hour, after which 

 it begins again. By this noife we were directed to 

 the place where the unfortunate Moor-hens fat, 

 and found 'em upon rotten mofTy Trees. By flap- 

 ping one Wing againft the other, they mean to call 

 their Mates ; and the humming noife that infues 

 thereupon, may be heard half a quarter of a League 

 off. This they do only in the Months of April$ 

 May, September and QEloher ; and, which is very re- 

 markable, a Moorhen never flaps in this manner 

 but upon one Tree. It begins at the break of day, 

 and gives over at nine a Clock in the Morning, till 

 about an hour before Sunfet that it flutters again, 

 and continues fo to do till Night : I proteft to you> 

 that I have frequently contented my felf with fee- 

 ing and admiring the flapping of their Wings with- 

 out offering to thoot at 'em. 



Befides the plealiire of fo many different forts of 

 Diverfion, I was likewife entertained in the Woods 

 with the company of the honeft old Gentlemen that 

 liv'd in former Ages. Honeft Homer, the amiable 

 Anacreon, and my dear Lucian, were my infepara** 

 ble Companions. Ariftotle too defir'd paffionately 

 to go along with us, but my Canow was too little 

 to hold his bulky Equipage of Peripatetick Silo- 

 gifms : So that he was e*en fain to trudge back to 

 the Jefuits, who vouchfaf 'd him a very honourable 

 Reception. I had a great deal of reafon to rid my 

 felf of that great Philofopher's Company; for his 

 ridiculous Jargon, and his fenfelefs Terms, would 

 have frighted the Savages out of their wits. Fare- 

 well, Sirj I am now arrived at once at the end of 



F % my . 



