affirme that they have seene a Lyon at _Cape Anne_ which is not above
six leagues from _Boston_: some likewise being lost in woods, have
heard such terrible roarings, as have made them much agast; which must
eyther be Devills or Lyons; there being no other creatures which use to
roare saving Beares, which have not such a terrible kind of roaring:
besides, _Plimouth_ men have traded for Lyons skinnes in former times.
But sure it is that there be Lyons on that Continent, for the
_Virginians_ saw an old Lyon in their plantations, who having lost his
Iackall, which was wont to hunt his prey, was brought so poore that he
could goe no further. For Beares they be common, being a great blacke
kind of Beare, which be most feirce in Strawberry time, at which time
they have young ones; at this time likewise they will goe upright like
a man, and clime trees, and swimme to the Islands; which if the
_Indians_ see, there will be more sportfull Beare bayting than Paris
Garden can affoard. For seeing the Beares take water, an _Indian_ will
leape after him, where they goe to water cuffes for bloody noses, and
scratched sides; in the end the man gets the victory, riding the Beare
over the watery plaine till he can beare him no longer. In the winter
they take themselves to the clifts of rockes, and thicke swamps, to
shelter them from the cold; and foode being scant in those cold and
hard times, they live onely by sleeping and sucking their pawes, which
keepeth them as fat as they are in Summer; there would be more of them
if it were not for the Woolves, which devoure them; a kennell of those
ravening runnagadoes, setting on a poore single Beare, will teare him
as a Dogge will teare a Kid: it would be a good change if the countrey
had for every Woolfe a Beare, upon the condition all the woolves were
banished; so should the inhabitants be not onely rid of their greatest
annoyance, but furnished with more store of provisions, Beares being
accounted very good meate, esteemed of all men above Venison: againe
they never prey upon the _English_ cattle, or offer to assault the
person of any man, unlesse being vexed with a shot, and a man run upon
them before they be dead, in which case they will stand in their owne
defence, as may appeare by this instance. Two men going a fowling,
appointed at evening to meete at a certaine pond side, to share
equally, and to returne home; one of these Gunners having killed a
Seale or Sea calfe, brought it to the side of the pond where hee was to
meete his comrade, afterwards returning to the Sea side for more gaine;
and having loaded himselfe with more Geese and Duckes, he repaired to
the pond, where hee saw a great Beare feeding on his Seale, which
caused him to throw downe his loade, and give the Beare a salute; which
though it was but with Goose shot, yet tumbled him over and over,
whereupon the man supposing him to be in a manner dead, ran and beate
him with the hand of his Gunne; The Beare perceiving him to be such a
coward to strike him when he was down, scrambled up, standing at
defiance with him, scratching his legges, tearing his cloathes and
face, who stood it out till his six foot Gunne was broken in the
middle, then being deprived of his weapon, he ran up to the shoulders
into the pond, where hee remained till the Beare was gone, and his mate
come in, who accompanied him home.
The beast called a Moose, is not much unlike red Deare, this beast is
as bigge as an Oxe; slow of foote, headed like a Bucke, with a broade
beame, some being two yards wide in the head, their flesh is as good as
Beefe, their hides good for cloathing; The _English_ have some thoughts
of keeping them tame, and to accustome them to the yoake, which will be
a great commoditie: First because they are so fruitfull, bringing forth
three at a time, being likewise very uberous. Secondly, because they
will live in winter without any fodder. There be not many of these in
the _Massachusets bay_, but forty miles to the Northeast there be great
store of them; These pore beasts likewise are much devoured by the
Woolves: The ordinary Deare be much bigger than the Deare of _England_,
of a brighter colour, more inclining to red, with spotted bellies; the
most store of these be in winter, when the more Northerne parts of the
countrey bee cold for them; they desire to be neare the Sea, so that
they may swimme to the Islands when they are chased by the Woolves: It
is not to be thought into what great multitudes they would encrease,
were it not for the common devourer the Woolfe; They have generally
three at a time, which they hide a mile one from another, giving them
sucke by turnes; thus they doe, that if the Woolfe should finde one, he
might misse of the other. These Deare be fat in the deepe of winter; In
Summer it is hard catching of them with the best Greyhounds that may be
procured, because they bee swift of foote. Some credible persons have
affirmed, that they have seene a Deare leape three score feet at little
or no forcement; besides, there be so many old trees, rotten stumps,
and _Indian_ barnes, that a dog cannot well run without being
shoulder-shot: yet would I not disswade any from carrying good dogges;
for in the winter time they be very usefull; for when the snow is hard
frozen, the Deare being heavie, sinkes into the snow, the doggs being
light runne upon the top and overtake them, and pull them downe: some
by this meanes have gotten twenty Buckes and Does in a winter, the
hornes of these Deare grow in such a straight manner, (overhanging
their heads) that they cannot feede upon such things as grow low, till
they have cast their old hornes: of these Deare there be a great many,
and more in the _Massachusets bay_, than in any other place, which is a
great helpe and refreshment to these planters. The Porcupine is a small
thing not much unlike a Hedgehog; something bigger, who stands upon his
guard and proclaimes a _Noli me tangere_, to man and beast, that shall
approach too neare him, darting his quills into their legges, and
hides. The Rackoone is a deepe furred beast, not much unlike a Badger,
having a tayle like a Fox, as good meate as a Lambe; there is one of
them in the Tower. These beasts in the day time sleepe in hollow trees,
in the moone shine night they goe to feede on clammes at a low tide, by
the Sea side, where the _English_ hunt them with their dogges. The
Squerrells be of three sorts, first the great gray Squerrell, which is
almost as bigge as an _English_ Rabbet; of these there be the greatest
plenty, one may kill a dozen of them in an afternoone, about three of
the clocke they begin to walke. The second is a small Squerrell, not
unlike the _English_ Squerrell, which doth much trouble the planters of
Corne, so that they are constrained to set divers Trappes, and to carry
their Cats into the Corne fields, till their corne be three weekes old.
The third kind is a flying Squerrell, which is not very bigge, slender
of body, with a great deale of loose skinne which shee spreads square
when shee flyes, which the winde gets, and so wafts her Batlike body
from place to place; it is a creature more for sight and wonderment,
than eyther pleasure or profit. The Rabbets be much like ours in
_England_. The Hares be some of them white, and a yard long; these two
harmelesse creatures are glad to shelter themselves from the harmefull
Foxes, in hollow trees, having a hole at the entrance no bigger than
they can creepe in at: if they should make them holes in the ground, as
our _English_ Rabbets doe, the undermining Renoilds would rob them of
their lives, and extirpate their generation. The beasts of offence be
Squunckes, Ferrets, Foxes, whose impudence sometimes drives them to the
good wives Hen roost, to fill their Paunch: some of these be blacke;
their furre is of much esteeme.
The Ounce or the wilde Cat, is as big as a mungrell dog, this creature
is by nature feirce, and more dangerous to bee met withall than any
other creature, not fearing eyther dogge or man; he useth to kill
Deare, which hee thus effecteth: Knowing the Deares tracts, hee will
lye lurking in long weedes, the Deare passing by he suddenly leapes
upon his backe, from thence gets to his necke, and scratcheth out his
throate; he hath likewise a devise to get Geese, for being much of the
colour of a Goose he will place himselfe close by the water, holding up
his bob taile, which is like a Goose necke; the Geese seeing this
counterfet Goose, approach nigh to visit him, who with a suddaine jerke
apprehends his mistrustlesse prey. The _English_ kill many of these,
accounting them very good meat. Their skinnes be a very deepe kind of
Furre, spotted white and black on the belly. The Woolves bee in some
respect different from them of other countries; it was never knowne yet
that a Woolfe ever set upon a man or woman. Neyther do they trouble
horses or cowes; but swine, goates and red calves which they take for
Deare, be often destroyed by them, so that a red calfe is cheaper than
a blacke one in that regard; in Autumne and the beginning of the
Spring, these ravenous rangers doe most frequent our _English_
habitations, following the Deare which come downe at that time to those
parts. They be made much like a Mungrell, being big boned, lanke
paunched, deepe breasted, having a thicke necke, and head, pricke
eares, and long snoute, with dangerous teeth, long flaring haire, and a
great bush taile; it is thought of many, that our _English_ Mastiffes
might be too hard for them; but it is no such matter, for they care no
more for an ordinary Mastiffe, than an ordinary Mastiffe cares for a
Curre; many good Dogges have beene spoyled with them. Once a faire
Grayhound hearing them at their howlings run out to chide them, who was
torne in peeces before he could be rescued. One of them makes no more
bones to runne away with a Pigge, than a Dogge to runne away with a
Marrow bone. It is observed that they have no joynts from the head to
the tayle, which prevents them from leaping, or suddaine turning, as
may appeare by what I shall shew you. A certaine man having shot a
Woolfe, as he was feeding upon a Swine, breaking his legge onely, hee
knew not how to devise his death, on a suddaine, the Woolfe being a
blacke one, he was loath to spoyle his furre with a second shot, his
skinne being worth five or sixe pound Sterling; wherefore hee resolved
to get him by the tayle, and thrust him into a River that was hard by;
which effected, the Woolfe being not able to turne his joyntlesse body
to bite him, was taken. That they cannot leape, may appeare by this
Woolfe, whose mouth watering at a few poore impaled Kiddes, would
needes leape over a five-foote pale to be at them; but his foote
slipping in the rise, he fell a little short of his desire, and being
hung in the Carpenters stockes, howled so loud, that he frighted away
the Kids, and called the _English_, who killed him. These be killed
dayly in some place or other, either by the _English_, or _Indian_; who
have a certaine rate for every head: Yet is there little hope of their
utter destruction, the Countrey being so spacious, and they so
numerous, travelling in the Swamps by Kennels: sometimes ten or twelve
are of a company. Late at night, and early in the morning, they set up
their howlings, and call their companies together at night to hunt, at
morning to sleepe; in a word they be the greatest inconveniency the
Countrey hath, both for matter of dammage to private men in particular,
and the whole Countrey in generall.
CHAP. VII.
_Beasts living in the water._
For all creatures that liv'd both by Land and Water, they be first
Otters, which be most of them blacke, whose furre is much used for
Muffes, and are held almost as deare as Beaver. The flesh of them is
none of the best meate, but their Oyle is of rare use for many things.
Secondly, Martins, a good furre for their bignesse: Thirdly,
Musquashes, which be much like a Beaver for shape, but nothing neare so
bigge; the Male hath two stones which smell as sweete as Muske, and
being killed in Winter, never lose their sweete smell: These skinnes
are no bigger than a Coney-skinne, yet are sold for five shillings a
peece, being sent for Tokens into _England_. One good skinne will
perfume a whole house-full of cloathes, if it be right and good.
Fourthly, the Beaver, concerning whom if I should at large discourse,
according to knowledge or information, I might make a Volumne. The
wisedome and understanding of this Beast, will almost conclude him a
reasonable creature: His shape is thicke and short, having likewise
short legs, feete like a Mole before, and behinde like a Goose, a broad
tayle in forme like a shooe-soale, very tough and strong; his head is
something like an Otters head, saving that his teeth before, be placed
like the teeth of a Rabbet, two above, and two beneath; sharpe and
broad, with which he cuts downe Trees as thicke as a mans thigh,
afterwards diuiding them into lengths, according to the use they are
appointed for. If one Bever be too weake to carry the logge, then
another helpes him; if they two be too weake, then _Multorum manibus
grande levatur onus_; foure more adding their helpe, being placed three
to three, which set their teeth in one anothers tough tayles, and
laying the loade on the two hindermost, they draw the logge to the
desired place. That this may not seeme altogether incredible, remember
that the like almost may be seene in our Ants, which will joyne
sometimes seaven or eight together in the carrying of a burthen. These
Creatures build themselves houses of wood and clay, close by the Ponds
sides, and knowing the Seasons, build them answerable houses, having
them three stories high, so that as land-floods are raised by great
Raines, as the waters arise, they mount higher in their houses; as they
asswage, they descend lower againe. These houses are so strong, that no
creature saving an industrious man with his penetrating tooles can
prejudice them, their ingresse and egresse being Vnder water. These
make likewise very good Ponds, knowing whence a streame runnes from
betweene two rising Hils, they will there pitch downe piles of Wood,
placing smaller rubbish before it with clay and sods, not leaving, till
by their Art and Industry they have made a firme and curious
damme-head, which may draw admiration from wise understanding men.
These creatures keepe themselves to their owne families, never parting
so long as they are able to keepe house together: And it is commonly
sayd, if any Beaver accidentally light into a strange place, he is made
a drudge so long as he lives there, to carry at the greater end of the
logge, unlesse he creepe away by stealth. Their wisedome secures them
from the _English_, who seldome or neuer kills any of them, being not
patient to lay a long siege, or to be so often deceived by their
cunning evasions, so that all the Beaver which the _English_ have,
comes first from the _Indians_, whose time and experience fits them for
that imployment.
CHAP. VIII.
_Of the Birds and Fowles both of Land and Water._
Having shewed you the most desireable, usefull, and beneficiall
creatures, with the most offensive carrions that belong to our
Wildernesse, it remaines in the next place, to shew you such kinds of
Fowle as the Countrey affords: They are many, and we have much variety
both at Sea and on Land; and such as yeeld us much profit, and honest
pleasure, and are these that follow; as
_The Princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawke,
Whom in their unknowne wayes there's none can chawke:
The Humberd for some Queenes rich Cage more fit,
Than in the vacant Wildernesse to sit.
The swift wing'd Swallow sweeping to and fro,
As swift as arrow from _Tartarian_ Bow.
When as _Aurora's_ infant day new springs,
There th' morning mounting Larke her sweete layes sings.
The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle-dove,
Who to her mate doth ever constant prove:
The _Turky_-Phesant, Heathcocke, Partridge rare,
The carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtfull Stare,
The long liv'd Raven, th' ominous Screech-Owle,
Who tells as old wives say, disasters foule.
The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov'd nest,
And loves to roave when day-birds be at rest:
Th' Eele-murthering Hearne, and greedy Cormorant,
That neare the Creekes in morish Marshes haunt.
The bellowing Bitterne, with the long-leg'd Crane,
Presaging Winters hard, and dearth of graine.
The Silver Swan that tunes her mournefull breath,
To sing the dirge of her approaching death.
The tatling Oldwines, and the cackling Geese,
The fearefull Gull that shunnes the murthering Peece.
The strong wing'd Mallard, with the nimble Teale,
And ill-shape't Loone who his harsh notes doth squeale.
There Widgins, Sheldrackes and Humilitees,
Snites, Doppers, Sea-Larkes, in whole millions flees._
The Eagles of the Countrey be of two sorts, one like the Eagles that be
in _England_, the other is something bigger with a great white head,
and white tayle: these bee commonly called Gripes; these prey upon
Duckes and Geese, and such Fish as are cast upon the Sea-shore. And
although an Eagle be counted King of that feathered regiment, yet is
there a certaine blacke Hawke that beates him; so that hee is
constrayned to soare so high, till heate expell his adversary. This
Hawke is much prized of the _Indians_, being accounted a Sagamores
ransome.
To speake much of Hawkes, were to trespasse upon my owne judgement, and
bring upon my selfe a deserved censure, for abusing the Faulconers
termes: But by relation from those that have more insight into them
than my selfe: There be divers kinds of Hawkes: their Aieries are easie
to come by, being in the holes of Rockes, neare the shore, so that any
who are addicted to that sport, if he will be but at the charge of
finding Poultry for them, may have his desires. We could wish them well
mew'd in _England_; for they make hauocke of Hens, Partridges,
Heathcockes, and Duckes; often hindering the Fowler of his long look't
for shoote. The Humbird is one of the wonders of the Countrey, being no
bigger than a Hornet, yet hath all the demensions of a Bird, as bill,
and wings, with quills, spider-like legges, small clawes: For colour,
she is as glorious as the Raine-bow; as she flies, she makes a little
humming noise like a Humble-bee: wherefore shee is called the Humbird.
The Pigeon of that Countrey, is something different from our Dove-house
Pigeons in _England_, being more like Turtles, of the same colour; but
they haue long tayles like a Magpie: And they seeme not so bigge,
because they carry not so many feathers on their backes as our
_English_ Doves, yet are they as bigge in body. These Birds come into
the Countrey, to goe to the North parts in the beginning of our Spring,
at which time (if I may be counted worthy, to be beleeved in a thing
that is not so strange as true) I have seene them fly as if the Ayerie
regiment had beene Pigeons; seeing neyther beginning nor ending,
length, or breadth of these Millions of Millions. The shouting of
people, the ratling of Gunnes, and pelting of small shotte could not
drive them out of their course, but so they continued for foure or five
houres together: yet it must not be concluded, that it is thus often;
for it is but at the beginning of the Spring, and at _Michaelmas_, when
they returne backe to the Southward; yet are there some all the yeare
long, which are easily attayned by such as looke after them. Many of
them build amongst the Pine-trees, thirty miles to the North-east of
our plantations; joyning nest to nest, and tree to tree by their nests,
so that the Sunne never sees the ground in that place, from whence the
_Indians_ fetch whole loades of them.
The Turky is a very large Bird, of a blacke colour, yet white in flesh;
much bigger than our _English_ Turky. He hath the use of his long legs
so ready, that he can runne as fast as a Dogge, and flye as well as a
Goose: of these sometimes there will be forty, threescore, and a
hundred of a flocke, sometimes more and sometimes lesse; their feeding
is Acornes, Hawes, and Berries, some of them get a haunt to frequent
our _English_ corne: In winter when the Snow covers the ground, they
resort to the Sea shore to look for Shrimps, & such smal Fishes at low
tides. Such as love Turkie hunting, must follow it in winter after a
new falne Snow, when hee may follow them by their tracts; some have
killed ten or a dozen in halfe a day; if they can be found towards an
evening and watched where they peirch, if one come about ten or eleaven
of the clocke he may shoote as often as he will, they will sit, unlesse
they be slenderly wounded. These Turkies remaine all the yeare long,
the price of a good Turkie cocke is foure shillings; and he is well
worth it, for he may be in weight forty pound; a Hen two shillings.
Pheasons bee very rare, but Heathcockes, and Partridges be common; he
that is a husband, and will be stirring betime, may kill halfe a dozen
in a morning.