$f the IfttirriiMl of America* 337 



the Houfes, not ranging far into the Woods ; and 

 both their Flefh and their Eggs are as well tailed as 

 any we have in England ; and they are generally 

 fatter ; for the Indians give them Maize good Store, 

 which is very fattening. 



Thefe are all the Kinds of Land-birds I noted a- 

 mong them: Though there are many fmaJl .ones Small 

 which I did not fo particularly obferve * and thefe Birds* 

 generally very pretty and mufical. 



About the Samballoes and other the Iflands and 

 the Sea-Coaft, on the North-fide efpecially, there 

 are gteat Numbers of Sea-fowl. The South-Sea- Sea- fowl*; 

 Coaft, more to Windward, has many of them too \ 

 but whether it be that the Bay of Panama does not 

 afford fo many Fifh to invite them ; for 'tis not near 

 fo well ftock'd with Fifh as the Coaft about the Sam-' 

 balloes, there are but very few Sea-fowl on the 

 South-Sea-Coaft of the IfthmuSj to what there are on Pelican* 

 the North-Coaft; and as to ^Pelicans particularly, 

 which are very frequent among the Samballoes, and all 

 * along the Weft-India Coafts, I don't remember that 

 I ever faw one of them any where in the South-Seas, 



The Pelican is a large Bird, with a great Beak, 

 fhort-legg'd like a Goofe \ and has a long Neck, 

 which it holds upright like a Swan. The Feathers 

 are of dark grey ; 'tis web-footed. Under the 

 Throat hangs a Bag or Pouch, which, when filPd, 

 is as large as both one's Fifts. The Subftance of it 

 is a thin Membrane, of a fine grey afhy Colour. 

 The Seamen kill them for the fake of thefe Bags, to 

 make Tobacco-pouches of them-, for, when dry, 

 they will hold a Pound of Tobacco ; and by a Bul- 

 let hung in them, they are foon brought into Shape, 

 The Pelican flies heavy and low ; we find nothing 

 but Fifh. in his Maw, for that is his Food. His 

 Pouch, as well as Stomach, has Fifn found in it 2 

 So that it feems likely that the Pouch is a Bag in- 

 tended to keep a Referve of Food, I have never 



Vol. Ill Z feen 



