Mr. clayton’s Account 
104 
The only beafl on thefe iflands is a fox, very nearly 
refembling the Englifh fox ; it is now very fhy and fcarce 
to be got. 
Of birds. There are three forts of wild geefe: the 
mountain goofe is fomewhat larger thanaMufcovy duck, 
feed always on the mountains, is pleafant tailed, and pre- 
ferable to the other forts, but is fcarce. Its plumage on 
the back is fpeckled with brown and black, of a greenifh 
hue, and towards the neck turns of a gloffy beautiful 
golden colour; the breail is coloured like a pheafant. 
The other goofe feeds in the vallies on the wild cran- 
berries and grafs, and is as large as a tame goofe; the 
gander is black and white fpeckled; the goofe is almoft 
like the mountain goofe, but darker and not fo beautiful. 
Thefe are good food in general ; but bell and fatteil in 
February, March, and April. Of the fea-goofe; the 
gander is white, the goofe mottled, black and white; they 
feed always on the fea-fhore, and are fcarcely eatable. . 
Wild ducks, widgeon, teal, and the fhelldrakes, are the 
fame as in Europe. But here is a fpecies of ducks, called 
the loggerhead, from its large head. They have fhort 
wings, are unable to fly, and only fwim and flap along 011 
the w'ater at an extraordinary rate. When driven afhore 
with boats they run fail, but loon fquat down and are j 
eafily caught ; they are eatable, but are but indifferent 
food : they are of a dark brown dirty colour. Snipes are 
plenty, and fo exceedingly tame that we could fhy at them s 
with flicks, and get a difli whenever we wanted. Of 
frnall birds there are feveral forts; the red breail, fpeckled 
5 on 
