His Bill is like a Curlue's, or Woodcock's,
and has much such a Body as the other, yet not so tall. He is good Meat.
{Great gray Gull.}
The great gray Gulls are good Meat, and as large as a Pullet.
They lay large Eggs, which are found in very great Quantities,
on the Islands in our Sound, in the Months of June, and July.
The young Squabs are very good Victuals, and often prove a Relief
to Travellers by Water, that have spent their Provisions.
{Old Wives.}
Old Wives are a black and white pied Gull with extraordinary long Wings,
and a golden colour'd Bill and Feet. He makes a dismal Noise, as he flies,
and ever and anon dips his Bill in the Salt-Water. I never knew him eaten.
{Sea-Cock.}
The Sea-Cock is a Gull that crows at Break of Day, and in the Morning,
exactly like a Dunghil Cock, which Cry seems very pleasant
in those uninhabited Places. He is never eaten.
{Curlues. Coots, Kingfisher, Loons, two sorts.}
Of Curlues there are three sorts, and vast Numbers of each.
They have all long Bills, and differ neither in Colour, nor Shape,
only in Size. The largest is as big as a good Hen, the smaller
the Bigness of a Snipe, or something bigger.
{Bitterns, three sorts.}
We have three sorts of Bitterns in Carolina. The first is the same
as in England; the second of a deep brown, with a great Topping,
and yellowish white Throat and Breast, and is lesser than the former;
the last is no bigger than a Wood-cock, and near the Colour of the second.
{Herns.}
We have the same Herns, as in England.
{White-Herns.}
White Herns are here very plentiful. I have seen above thirty
sit on one Tree, at a time. They are as white as Milk, and fly very slowly.
{Water-Pheasant.}
The Water-Pheasant (very improperly call'd so) are a Water-Fowl
of the Duck-Kind, having a Topping, of pretty Feathers, which sets them out.
They are very good Meat.
{Little gray Gull.}
The little Gray-Gull is of a curious gray Colour, and abides near the Sea.
He is about the Bigness of a Whistling-Plover, and delicate Food.
{Dipper.}
We have the little Dipper or Fisher, that catches Fish so dexterously,
the same as you have in the Islands of Scilly.
{Duck and Mallard.}
We have of the same Ducks, and Mallards with green Heads, in great Flocks.
They are accounted the coarsest sort of our Water-Fowl.
{Black Duck.}
The black Duck is full as large as the other, and good Meat.
She stays with us all the Summer, and breeds.
