NORTH AMERICA. 
fapering from its ball to a (harp point ; all the upper 
fide, the abdomen and thighs, are as black and 
gloffy as a raven's, covered with feathers fo firm and 
elaftic, that they in fome degree refemble fim-fcales ; 
the bread and upper part of the belly are covered 
with feathers of a cream colour ; the tail is very 
long, of a deep black, and tipped with a filvery 
white, and when fpread, reprefents an unfurled fan. 
They delight to fit in little peaceable communities, 
on the dry limbs of trees, hanging over the Hill 
waters, with their wings and tails expanded, I fup- 
pofe to cool and air themfelves, when at the fame time 
they behold their images in the watery mirrour. At 
fuch times, when we approach them, they drop off 
the limbs into the water as if dead, and for a minute 
or two are not to be feen ; when on a fudden, at a 
vaft diftance, their long fiender head and neck 
only appear, and have very much the appearance 
of a make, and no other part of them is to be feen. 
when fwimming in the water, except fometimes 
the tip end of their tail. In the heat of the day they 
are feen in great numbers, failing very high in the 
air, over lakes and rivers. 
I doubt not but if this bird had been an inhabi- 
tant of the Tiber in Ovid's days, it would have 
furnifhed him with a fubjecl for fome beautiful and 
entertaining metamorphofes. I believe it feeds en- 
tirely on firn, for its flefh fmells and taftes intolera- 
bly ftrong of it ; it is fcarcely to be eaten unlefs 
conftrained by infuiferabie hunger. 
I had now iwamps and marines on both fides of 
me ; and evening coming on apace, I began to look 
out for high land to encamp on ; but the extenlive 
marines feemed to have no bounds, and it was al- 
moft dark when I found a tolerably mitable place, 
K 2 and 
