Anas Minor ex albo & fuseo vario: The little brown Duck. This Duck has a large white Spot on each side the Head, and another
on the lower part of the Wing; except which, the Head and all the
upper part of the Body and Wings are dark brown; the Breast and
Belly light gray, the Bill black, the Irides of the Eyes of a Hazel-colour.
This was a Female. The Male was pyed black and white; but not being
able to procure it, I am necessitated to be thus short in the description.
They frequent the lower parts of Rivers in Carolina, where
the Water is salt, or brakish.
Frutex Buxi foliis oblongis, baccis pallide viridibus apice donatis:
Soap-Wood.
Shrub or small Tree rises to the Height of about 6 or 8 foot, and
usually with one strait Stem covered with a whitish Bark; the Leaves
in Size, Shape and Substance resemble those of Box, and many of
them grow concave and curling, with their edges inward. At the Ends
of the smaller Twigs grow Bunches of round pale green Berries of
the Size of large Peas, set on Foot-stalks a quarter of an Inch
long with a small indented Capsula. These Berries contain
an uncertain number of (four, five, and some six) small brown Seeds
covered with a Mucilage. The Bark and Leaves of this Tree being
beat in a Morter produces a Lather; and is made Use of to wash Cloaths
and Linnen, to which last it gives a yellowness. The Hunters who
frequent the desolate Islands of Bahama, (where this Shrub
grows on the Sea-Coast) are frequently necessitated to use this
Sort of soap to wash their Shirts, for want of better.
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