They Are So Call'd, Because The Same Sort
Is Found In The East-Indies.
They appear only in the Summer,
and live on Flies, which they catch in the Air, as Gnats, Musquetos, &c.
{Martins.}
Martins are here of two sorts. The first is the same as in England;
the other as big as a Black-Bird. They have white Throats and Breasts,
with black Backs. The Planters put Gourds on standing Poles,
on purpose for these Fowl to build in, because they are a very Warlike Bird,
and beat the Crows from the Plantations.
{Swift.}
The Swift, or Diveling, the same as in England.
{Swallow.}
Swallows, the same as in England.
{Humming-Bird.}
The Humming-Bird is the Miracle of all our wing'd Animals;
He is feather'd as a Bird, and gets his Living as the Bees,
by sucking the Honey from each Flower. In some of the larger sort of Flowers,
he will bury himself, by diving to suck the bottom of it, so that
he is quite cover'd, and oftentimes Children catch them in those Flowers,
and keep them alive for five or six days. They are of different Colours,
the Cock differing from the Hen. The Cock is of a green, red,
Aurora, and other Colours mixt. He is much less than a Wren,
and very nimble. His Nest is one of the greatest Pieces of Workmanship
the whole Tribe of wing'd Animals can shew, it commonly hanging
on a single Bryar, most artificially woven, a small Hole being left
to go in and out at.
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