NORTH AMERICA. 
219 
feathers which fall down off the rump on each fide, 
are very long and (harp-pointed, of a delicate tex- 
ture, and iilky foftnefs ; the beak is very long, ftraight 
and fharp pointed ; the crown of the head bare of 
feathers, of a reddifh rofe colour, thinly barbed 
with fhort, ft iff, black hair ; the legs and thighs are 
very long, and bare of feathers a great fpace above 
the knees : the plumage of this bird is generally of 
a pale afh colour, with fhades or clouds of pale 
brown and Iky blue, the brown prevails on the 
ihoulders and back ; the barrels of the prime quill- 
feathers are long and of a large diameter, leaving 
a large cavity when extracted from the wing : all 
the bones of this bird have a thin fhell, and conse- 
quently a large cavity or medullary receptacle. 
When thefe birds move their wings in flight, their 
ftrokes are flow, moderate, and regular ; and even, 
when at a confiderable diitance or high above us, 
we plainly hear the quill-feathers, their fhafts and 
webs upon one another creak as the joints or work- 
ing of a vefTel in a tempeftuous fea. 
We had this fowl drefTed for fupper, and it made 
excellent foup ; nevertheless, as long as I can get 
any other neceflary food, I fhall prefer their feraphic 
mafic in the ethereal ikies, and my eyes and under- 
Handing gratified in obferving their economy and 
focial communities, in the expanfive green favannas 
of Florida. 
Next morning we arofe early, and proceeding, 
gradually defcended again, and continued * many 
miles along a flat, level country, over delightful 
green favannas, decorated with hommocks or iflets 
of dark groves, confiding of Magnolia grandiflora, 
Morus tilia, Zanthoxylon, Laurus Borbonia, Side- 
roxylon, Quercus fempervirens, Halefia diptera, Cal- 
Jicarpa, Corypha palma, &c. There are always groups 
