TheHijloryof 



Book I 



PARROTS- 



IN all thefe Iflands almoft there are Parrots, which the Indi- 

 ans in their Language call Koukbnec, and they are feen in 

 companies like Starelings : The Hunts-men rank them among 

 the Wild-fowl, and think not their pains and powder ill fpent 

 to kill them \ for they are as good and as fat as any Pullet, 

 efpecially when they are young, and have corn and fruits to 

 feed upon : their bignefs and plumage differs according to the 

 difference of the Iflands, infomuch that the ancient Inhabi- 

 tants know by their bulk and feathers what places they were 

 bred in. 



There is an admirable kind of them in one of the Iflands 

 called the Virgins ; they are no bigger then that Bird which 

 the Latines call Vpupa 3 the Englilh a Wheope, and almoft of the 

 fame figure : But their feathers are of fuch a ftrnnge diverfity 

 of colours, as extreamly pleafes the eye : they are apt to Ipeak 

 very diftinttly, and imitate whatever they hear. 



PARAQVITOES. 



THe Paraquitoes are a fmall kind of Parrots 9 no bigger 

 then Blackbirds, nay feme exceed not the Bulk of a 

 Sparrow: They are all green, fave that under the belly and 

 the extremities of the wings and tails they are a iiitle yellow- 

 ifh : they are taught to fpeak an<^ whiftle, but retain fbmwhat 

 of their wildoefs} for they wijl bite bard if they be angred : If 

 thev can get loofethey will into the Woods,where they ftarve^ 

 for being taken young and kept in Cages where they have their 

 meat made ready for them, they cannot pitch on thole Trees 

 which bear food fit for them. 



1 REMBL Q. 



f ^3 fome Iflands, efpecially Gardebupe, there is a little &ir4 

 ,'{ called Tremblo from its perpetual trembling, or fhaking , of 

 the wings, which it a little opens : it is about the bignefs qf a 

 Qy ail, the feathers of a darker grey then the t^ark- 



SPARROW of Amerk^ L 



' i l He Iflands of Tabagp and Barboudos, being the more Sou- 

 JL | therly of all the Caribbies , are furniflied with ieveral 

 forts of beautiful Birds not to be found in the more Northerly. * 

 Among the reft there is one no bigger then a Sparrow is very 

 remarkable for the beauty of its plumage 5 for his head, neck 

 and back are of fo bright and fparkling a red, that when a man 



hath 



