' 
8 4 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
Thcfe birds inhabits Cuba, and make great 
havock amongft the rice plantations ; for rice is 
their favourite food, when it is in its milky ftate. 
In a very fhort time they deftroy whole acres of 
rice. 
In autumn, after doing a great deal of mifchief 
in Cuba, the females migrate to Carolina; they 
pafs over the fea in immenfe flocks, and are o.ten 
heard by the failors in their paflage. Their flay 
in Carolina is very fhort, about three weeks, in 
that fpace of time they become fo fat, that when 
they are fhot, they often burfi: in the fall. 
In the fpring, both the male, and the female 
Rice birds, make another fhort vifit to Carolina ; 
fome few flay there the whole year. 
This bird was never known ’ Carolina until I 
rice was cultivated there. By a wonderful in- 
Hindi, they have followed this plan. ; in the fame 
manner Sparrows have pafied into countries, 
where they were unknown, until they became, 
better inhabited, and corn was cultivated ; and 
Partridges have continued to fpread themfelves 
with the cultivation of corn, in countries where 
before they were utter ftrangers. 
It is not a century fince rice was firft introdu¬ 
ced into Carolina, a fmall quantity 01 iome that I 
was brought as a feaftore, in a veffel, was left in j 
the 
