Time the poor Pig
makes such a Noise over Head, that Strangers that have heard them cry,
and not seen the Bird and his Prey, have thought there were
Flying Sows and Pigs in that Country. The Eagle's Nest is made of Twigs,
Sticks and Rubbish. It is big enough to fill a handsome Carts Body,
and commonly so full of nasty Bones and Carcasses that it stinks
most offensively. This Eagle is not bald, till he is one or two years old.
{Gray Eagle.}
The gray Eagle is altogether the same sort of Bird, as the Eagle in Europe;
therefore, we shall treat no farther of him.
{Fishing-Hawk.}
The Fishing-Hawk is the Eagle's Jackal, which most commonly
(though not always) takes his Prey for him. He is a large Bird,
being above two thirds as big as the Eagle. He builds his Nest
as the Eagles do; that is, in a dead Cypress-Tree, either standing in,
or hard by, the Water. The Eagle and this Bird seldom sit on a living Tree.
He is of a gray pied Colour, and the most dexterous Fowl in Nature
at Catching of Fish, which he wholly lives on, never eating any Flesh.
{Turkey-Buzzard.}
The Turkey-Buzzard of Carolina is a small Vulture, which lives on
any dead Carcasses. They are about the Bigness of the Fishing-Hawk,
and have a nasty Smell with them. They are of the Kites Colour,
and are reported to be an Enemy to Snakes, by killing all they meet withal
of that Kind.
{Herring-tail'd Hawk.}
The Herring, or Swallow-tail'd Hawk, is about the Bigness of a Falcon,
but a much longer Bird. He is of a delicate Aurora-Colour;
the Pinions of his Wings, and End of his Tail are black.
He is a very beautiful Fowl, and never appears abroad but in the Summer.
His Prey is chiefly on Snakes, and will kill the biggest we have,
with a great deal of Dexterity and Ease.
{Goshawk.}
Goshawks are very plentiful in Carolina. They are not seemingly so large
as those from Muscovy; but appear to be a very brisk Bird.
{Falcon.}
The Falcon is much the same as in Europe, and promises to be a brave Bird,
tho' I never had any of them in my Hand; neither did I ever see any of them
in any other Posture than on the Wing, which always happen'd to be
in an Evening, and flying to the Westward; therefore, I believe,
they have their Abode and Nest among the Mountains, where we may expect
to find them, and several other Species that we are at present Strangers to.
