_The Bear, which are generally Black._[46]
The _Bear_, they live four months in Caves, that is all Winter; in
the Spring they bring forth their young ones, they seldome have
above three Cubbs in a litter, are very fat in the Fall of the Leaf
with feeding upon Acorns, at which time they are excellent Venison;
their Brains are venomous; They feed much upon water Plantane in the
Spring and Summer, and Berries, and also upon a shell-fish called
a _Horse-foot_; and are never mankind, i.e. fierce, but in rutting
time, and then they walk the Country twenty, thirty, forty in a
company, making a hideous noise with roaring, which you may hear a
mile or two before they come so near to endanger the Traveller. About
four years since, Acorns being very scarce up in the Country, some
numbers of them came down {14} amongst the _English_ Plantations,
which generally are by the Sea side; at one Town called _Gorgiana_
in the Province of _Meyn_ (called also _New-Sommerset-shire_) they
kill’d fourscore.
_For Aches and Cold Swellings._
Their Grease is very good for Aches and Cold Swellings, the _Indians_
anoint themselves therewith from top to toe, which hardens them
against the cold weather. A black Bears Skin heretofore was worth
forty shillings, now you may have one for ten, much used by the
_English_ for Beds and Coverlets, and by the _Indians_ for Coats.
_For Pain and Lameness upon Cold._
One _Edw. Andrews_ being foxt,[47] and falling backward cross a
Thought[48] in a Shallop or Fisher-boat, and taking cold upon it,
grew crooked, lame, and full of pain, was cured, lying one Winter
upon Bears Skins newly flead off, with some upon him, so that he
sweat every night.
_The Wolf._[49]
The _Wolf_, of which there are two kinds; one with a round-ball’d
Foot, and {15} are in shape like mungrel Mastiffs; the other with a
flat Foot, these are liker Greyhounds, and are called _Deer Wolfs_,
because they are accustomed to prey upon _Deer_. A _Wolf_ will eat
a _Wolf_ new dead, and so do _Bears_ as I suppose, for their dead
Carkases are never found, neither by the _Indian_ nor _English_. They
go a clicketing twelve days, and have as many Whelps at a Litter as
a Bitch. The _Indian Dog_[50] is a Creature begotten ’twixt a _Wolf_
and a _Fox_, which the _Indians_ lighting upon, bring up to hunt
the _Deer_ with. The _Wolf_ is very numerous, and go in companies,
sometimes ten, twenty, more or fewer, and so cunning, that seldome
any are kill’d with Guns or Traps; but of late they have invented a
way to destroy them, by binding four _Maycril Hooks_ a cross with a
brown thread, and then wrapping some Wool about them, they dip them
in melted Tallow till it be as round and as big as an Egg; these
(when any Beast hath been kill’d by the _Wolves_) they scatter by the
dead Carkase, after they have beaten off the _Wolves_; about Midnight
the _Wolves_ are sure to return again to the place where they left
the slaughtered Beast, and the {16} first thing they venture upon
will be these balls of fat.
_For old Aches._
A black _Wolfs_ Skin is worth a _Beaver_ Skin among the _Indians_,
being highly esteemed for helping old Aches in old people, worn as a
Coat; they are not mankind, as in _Ireland_ and other Countries, but
do much harm by destroying of our _English_ Cattle.
_The Ounce._[51]
The _Ounce_ or _Wild Cat_, is about the bigness of two lusty Ram
Cats, preys upon Deer and our _English_ Poultrey: I once found six
whole Ducks in the belly of one I killed by a Pond side: Their flesh
roasted is as good as Lamb, and as white.
_For Aches and shrunk Sinews._
Their Grease is soveraign for all manner of Aches and shrunk Sinews:
Their Skins are accounted good Fur, but somewhat course.
{17} _The Raccoon._[52]
The _Raccoon_ liveth in hollow trees, and is about the size of a _Gib
Cat_; they feed upon Mass, and do infest our _Indian_ Corn very much;
they will be exceeding fat in Autumn; their flesh is somewhat dark,
but good food roasted.
_For Bruises and Aches._
Their Fat is excellent for bruises and Aches. Their Skins are
esteemed a good deep Fur; but yet as the _Wild Cats_ somewhat coarse.
_The Porcupine._
The _Porcupine_, in some parts of the Countrey Eastward towards
the _French_, are as big as an ordinary Mungrel Cur; a very angry
Creature, and dangerous, shooting a whole shower of Quills with a
rowse at their enemies, which are of that nature, that wherever
they stick in the flesh, they will work through in a short time,
if not prevented by pulling of them out. The _Indians_ make use of
their Quills, which are hardly a handful long, to adorn {18} the
edges of their birchen dishes, and weave (dying some of them red,
others yellow and blew) curious bags or pouches, in works like
_Turkie-work_.[53]
_The Beaver, Canis Ponticus, Amphybious._[54]
The _Beaver_, whose old ones are as big as an _Otter_, or rather
bigger, a Creature of a rare instinct, as may apparently be seen in
their artificial Dam-heads to raise the water in the Ponds where they
keep, and their houses having three stories, which would be too large
to discourse.[54] They have all of them four Cods hanging outwardly
between their hinder legs, two of them are soft or oyly, and two
solid or hard; the _Indians_ say they are _Hermaphrodites_.
_For Wind in the Stomach._
Their solid Cods are much used in Physick: Our _Englishwomen_ in this
Country use the powder grated, as much as will lye upon a shilling
in a draught of _Fiol_ Wine, for Wind in the Stomach and Belly, and
venture many times in such cases to give it to Women with Child:
Their Tails are flat, and covered with Scales without hair, {19}
which being flead off, and the Tail boiled, proves exceeding good
meat, being all Fat, and as sweet as Marrow.
_The Moose-Deer._[55]
The _Moose Deer_, which is a very goodly Creature, some of them
twelve foot high, with exceeding fair Horns with broad Palms, some of
them two fathom from the tip of one Horn to the other; they commonly
have three _Fawns_ at a time, their flesh is not dry like Deers
flesh, but moist and lushious somewhat like Horse flesh (as they
judge that have tasted of both) but very wholsome. The flesh of their
_Fawns_ is an incomparable dish, beyond the flesh of an Asses Foal so
highly esteemed by the _Romans_, or that of young Spaniel Puppies so
much cried up in our days in _France_ and _England_.
_Moose Horns better for Physick Use than Harts Horns._
Their Horns are far better (in my opinion) for Physick than the Horns
of other Deer, as being of a stronger nature: As for their Claws,
which both _Englishmen_ and _French_ make use of for _Elk_, I cannot
{20} approve so to be from the Effects, having had some trial of it;
besides, all that write of the _Elk_ describe him with a tuft of
hair on the left Leg behind, a little above the pastern joynt on the
outside of the Leg, not unlike the tuft (as I conceive) that groweth
upon the breast of a _Turkie Cock_, which I could never yet see upon
the Leg of a _Moose_, and I have seen some number of them.
_For Children breeding Teeth._
The _Indian Webbes_ make use of the broad Teeth of the _Fawns_ to
hang about their Childrens Neck when they are breeding of their
Teeth. The Tongue of a grown _Moose_, dried in the smoak after the
_Indian_ manner, is a dish for a _Sagamor_.
_The Maccarib._[56]
The _Maccarib_, _Caribo_, or _Pohano_, a kind of Deer, as big as a
Stag, round hooved, smooth hair’d and soft as silk; their Horns
grow backwards a long their backs to their rumps, and turn again
a handful beyond their Nose, having another Horn in the middle of
their Forehead, about half a yard long, very straight, but {21}
wreathed like an _Unicorns_ Horn, of a brown jettie colour, and very
smooth: The Creature is no where to be found, but upon Cape _Sable_
in the _French_ Quarters, and there too very rarely, they being not
numerous; some few of their Skins and their streight Horns are (but
very sparingly) brought to the _English_.
_The Fox._[57]
The _Fox_, which differeth not much from ours, but are somewhat less;
a black _Fox_ Skin heretofore was wont to be valued at fifty and
sixty pound, but now you may have them for twenty shillings; indeed
there is not any in _New-England_ that are perfectly black, but
silver hair’d, that is sprinkled with grey hairs.
_The Jaccal._[58]
The _Jaccal_, is a Creature that hunts the _Lions_ prey, a shrew’d
sign that there are _Lions_ upon the Continent; there are those that
are yet living in the Countrey, that do constantly affirm, that about
six or seven and thirty years since an _Indian_ {22} shot a young
_Lion_,[59] sleeping upon the body of an Oak blown up by the roots,
with an Arrow, not far from Cape _Anne_, and sold the Skin to the
_English_. But to say something of the _Jaccal_, they are ordinarily
less than _Foxes_, of the colour of a gray Rabbet, and do not scent
nothing near so strong as a _Fox_; some of the _Indians_ will eat of
them: Their Grease is good for all that _Fox_ Grease is good for, but
weaker; they are very numerous.
_The Hare._[60]
The _Hare_ in _New-England_ is no bigger than our _English_ Rabbets,
of the same colour, but withall having yellow and black strokes
down the ribs; in Winter they are milk white, and as the Spring
approacheth they come to their colour; when the Snow lies upon the
ground they are very bitter with feeding upon the bark of Spruce, and
the like.[61]
{23} Thirdly, Of Fishes.[62]
_Pliny_ and _Isadore_ write there are not above 144 Kinds of Fishes,
but to my knowledge there are nearer 300: I suppose _America_ was not
known to _Pliny_ and _Isadore_.
_A Catalogue of Fish, that is, of those that are to be seen between
the English Coast and_ America, _and those proper to the Countrey_.
_Alderling._
_Alize_, _Alewife_, because great-bellied; _Olafle_, _Oldwife_,
_Allow_.[63]
_Anchova_ or _Sea Minnow_.
_Aleport._
_Albicore._[64]
_Barble._
_Barracha._
_Barracoutha_, a fish peculiar to the _West-Indies_.[65]
_Barsticle._
_Basse._[66]
_Sea Bishop_, proper to the _Norway_ Seas.
{24} _River Bleak_ or _Bley_, a _River Swallow_.
_Sea Bleak_ or _Bley_, or _Sea Camelion_.
_Blew Fish_ or _Hound Fish_, two kinds, _speckled Hound Fish_, and
_Blew Hound Fish_ called _Horse Fish_.[67]
_Bonito_ or _Dozado_, or _Spanish Dolphin_.[68]
_River Bream._
_Sea Bream._[69]
_Cud Bream._
_Bullhead_ or _Indian Muscle_.
_River Bulls._
_Burfish._
_Burret._
_Cackarel_ or _Laxe_.
_Calemarie_ or _Sea Clerk_.
_Catfish._[70]
_Carp._
_Chare_, a _Fish_ proper to the River _Wimander_ in _Lancashire_.
_Sea Chough._
_Chub or Chevin._
_Cony Fish._
_Clam_ or _Clamp_.[71]
_Sea Cob._
_Cockes_, or _Coccles_, or _Coquil_.[72]
_Cook Fish._
_Rock Cod._
_Sea Cod_ or _Sea Whiting_.[73]
{25} _Crab_, divers kinds, as the _Sea Crab_, _Boatfish_, _River
Crab_, _Sea Lion_, _&c._
_Sea Cucumber._
_Cunger_ or _Sea Eel_.
_Cunner_ or _Sea Roach_.
_Cur._
_Currier_, _Post_, or _Lacquey_ of the Sea.
_Crampfish_ or _Torpedo_.
_Cuttle_, or _Sleeves_, or _Sea Angler_.
_Clupea_, the _Tunnies_ enemy.
_Sea Cornet._
_Cornuta_ or _Horned Fish_.
_Dace_, _Dare_, or _Dart_.
_Sea Dart_, _Javelins_.
_Dog-fish_ or _Tubarone_.
_Dolphin._
_Dorce._
_Dorrie_, _Goldfish_.
_Golden-eye_, _Gilt-pole_, or _Godline_, _Yellow-heads_.
_Sea Dragon_ or _Sea Spider_, _Quaviner_.
_Drum_, a Fish frequent in the _West Indies_.
_Sea Emperour_ or _Sword Fish_.
_Eel_, of which divers kinds.[74]
_Sea Elephant_, the Leather of this Fish will never rot, excellent
for Thongs.
_Ears_ of the Sea.
_Flayl-fish._
{26} _Flownder_ or _Flook_, the young ones are called _Dabs_.
_Sea Flownder_ or _Flowre_.
_Sea Fox._
_Frogfish._
_Frostfish._[75]
_Frutola_, a broad plain Fish with a Tail like a half Moon.
_Sea Flea._
_Gallyfish._
_Grandpiss_[76] or _Herring Hog_, this, as all Fish of extraordinary
size, are accounted Regal Fishes.
_Grayling._
_Greedigut._
_Groundling._
_Gudgin._
_Gulf._
_Sea Grape._
_Gull._
_Gurnard._
_Hake._
_Haccle_ or _Sticklebacks_.
_Haddock._
_Horse Foot_ or _Asses Hoof_.
_Herring._
_Hallibut_ or _Sea Pheasant_. Some will have the _Turbut_ all one,
others distinguish {27} them, calling the young Fish of the first
_Buttis_, and of the other _Birt_. There is no question to be made of
it but that they are distinct kinds of Fish.[77]
_Sea Hare._[78]
_Sea Hawk._
_Hartfish._
_Sea Hermit._
_Henfish._
_Sea Hind._
_Hornbeak_, _Sea Ruff_ and _Reeves_.
_Sea Horseman._
_Hog_ or _Flying Fish_.
_Sea Kite_ or _Flying Swallow_.
_Lampret_ or _Lamprel_.
_Lampreys_ or _Lamprones_.[79]
_Limpin._
_Ling_, _Sea Beef_; the smaller sort is called _Cusk_.
_Sea Lanthorn._
_Sea Liver._
_Lobster._[80]
_Sea Lizard._
_Sea Locusts._
_Lump_, _Poddle_, or _Sea Owl_.
_Lanter._
_Lux_, peculiar to the river _Rhyne_.
_Sea Lights._
{28} _Luna_, a very small Fish, but exceeding beautiful, broad-bodied
and blewish of colour; when it swims, the Fins make a Circle like the
Moon.
_Maycril._
_Maid._
_Manatee._
_Mola_, a Fish like a lump of Flesh, taken in the _Venetian_ Sea.
_Millers Thumb_, _Mulcet_ or _Pollard_.
_Molefish._
_Minnow_, called likewise a _Pink_; the same name is given to young
_Salmon_; it is called also a _Witlin_.
_Monkefish._[81]
_Morse_, _River_ or _Sea Horse_,[82] fresh water _Mullet_.
_Sea Mullet_, _Botargo_ or _Petargo_ is made of their Spawn.
_Muscle_, divers kinds.[83]
_Navelfish._
_Nunfish._
_Needlefish._
_Sea Nettle._
_Oyster._[84]
_Occulata._
_Perch_ or _River Partridge_.
_Pollack._
{29} _Piper_ or _Gavefish_.
_Periwig._
_Periwincle_ or _Sea Snail_ or _Whelk_.
_Pike_, or _Fresh-water Wolf_, or _River Wolf_, _Luce_ and _Lucerne_,
which is an overgrown _Pike_.
_Pilchard_, when they are dried as _Red Herrings_ they are called
_Fumadoes_.
_Pilot Fish._
_Plaice_ or _Sea Sparrow_.
_Polipe_ or _Pour-Contrel_.
_Porpuise_ or _Porpiss_, _Molebut_, _Sea Hog_, _Sus Marinus_,
_Tursion_.
_Priest Fish_ or _Sea Priest_.
_Prawn_ or _Crangone_.
_Punger._
_Patella._
_Powt_, the _Feathered Fish_, or _Fork Fish_.
_River Powt._
_Pursefish_, or _Indian Reversus_, like an _Eel_; having a Skin on
the hinder part of her Head, like a Purse, with strings, which will
open and shut.
_Parratfish._
_Purplefish._
_Porgee._
_Remora_, or _Suck Stone_, or _Stop Ship_.
_Sea Raven._
{30} _Roch_ or _Roach_.
_Rochet_ or _Rouget_.
_Ruff_ or _Pope_.
_Sea Ram._
_Salmon._[85]
_Sailfish._
_Scallope_ or _Venus Coccle_.
_Scate_, or _Ray_, or _Gristlefish_; of which divers kinds; as _sharp
snowted Ray_, _Rock Ray_, _&c._
_Shad._[86]
_Shallow._
_Sharpling._
_Spurling._
_Sculpin._
_Sheepshead._[87]
_Soles_, or _Tonguefish_, or _Sea Capon_, or _Sea Partridge_.
_Seal_, or _Soil_, or _Zeal_.[88]
_Sea Calf_, and (as some will have it) _Molebut_.
_Sheathfish._[89]
_Sea Scales._
_Sturgeon_; of the Roe of this Fish they make _Caviare_, or
_Cavialtie_.[90]
_Shark_ or _Bunch_, several kinds.[91]
_Smelt._
_Snaccot._
{31} _Shrimp._
_Spyfish._
_Spitefish._
_Sprat._
_Spungefish._
_Squill._
_Squid._[92]
_Sunfish._
_Starfish._[93]
_Swordfish._
_Tench._
_Thornback_ or _Neptunes Beard_.
_Thunnie_, they cut the Fish in pieces like shingles and powder it,
and this they call _Melandria_.
_Sea Toad._
_Tortoise_, _Torteise_, _Tortuga_, _Tortisse_, _Turcle_ or _Turtle_,
of divers kinds.[94]
_Trout._[95]
_Turbut._[96]
_Sea Tun._
_Sea Tree._
_Uraniscopus._
_Ulatise_ or _Sawfish_, having a Saw in his Forehead three foot long,
and very sharp.
_Umber._
_Sea Urchin._
{32} _Sea Unicorn_ or _Sea Mononeros_.
_Whale_, many kinds.[97]
_Whiting_ or _Merling_, the young ones are called _Weerlings_ and
_Mops_.
_Whore._[98]
_Yardfish_, _Asses Prick_ or _Shamefish_.
_The Sturgeon._
The _Sturgeon_, of whose Sounds is made Isinglass, a kind of Glew
much used in Physick: This Fish is here in great plenty, and in some
Rivers so numerous, that it is hazardous for Canoes and the like
small Vessels to pass to and again, as in _Pechipscut_ River to the
Eastward.
_The Cod._
The _Cod_, which is a staple Commodity in the Country.
_To stop Fluxes of Blood._
In the Head of this Fish is found a Stone, or rather a Bone, which
being pulveriz’d and drank in any convenient liquor, will stop Womens
overflowing Courses notably: Likewise,
{33} _For the Stone._
There is a Stone found in their Bellies, in a Bladder against their
Navel, which being pulveriz’d and drank in White-wine Posset or Ale,
is present Remedy for the Stone.
_To heal a green Cut._
About their Fins you may find a kind of Lowse, which healeth a green
Cut in short time.
_To restore them that have melted their Grease._
Their Livers and Sounds eaten, is a good Medicine for to restore them
that have melted their Grease.
_The Dogfish._
The _Dogfish_, a ravenous Fish.
_For the Toothach._
Upon whose Back grows a Thorn two or three Inches long, that helps
the Toothach, scarifying the Gums therewith.
Their Skins are good to cover Boxes and Instrument Cases.
{34} _The Stingray._
The _Stingray_, a large Fish, of a rough Skin, good to cover Boxes
and Hafts of Knives, and Rapier sticks.
_The Tortous._
The _Turtle_ or _Tortous_, of which there are three kinds: 1. The
land _Turtle_; they are found in dry sandy Banks, under old Houses,
and never go into the water.
_For the Ptisick, Consumption, and Morbus Gallicus._
They are good for the Ptisick and Consumptions, and some say the
_Morbus Gallicus_.