Coccothraustes Caerulea: The Blue Gross-beak. A Narrow black Lift encompasses the Basis of the Bill, and joins
to the Eyes: The Head and whole Body, except the Tail and part of
the Wings, of a deep blue. Below the shoulder of the Wing are a
few red Feathers: The lower part of the Wing and Tail brown, with
a mixture of green; The Legs and Feet of a dusky black.
The Hen is all over dark brown, with a very small mixture of blue.
It is a very uncommon and solitary bird, seen only in Pairs. They
have one single Note only, and appear not in Winter. I have not
seen any of these Birds in any parts of America but Carolina.
Magnolia Lauri folio, subtus albicante: The Sweet Sweet Flowering
Bay.
This is a small Tree, usually growing sixteen Foot high; the Wood
white and spongy, covered with a white Bark. The Leaves are in shape
like those of the common Bay, but of a pale green, having their
back-sides white: In May they begin to blossom, continuing
most part of the Summer to perfume the Woods with their fragrant
flowers, which are white, made up of six Petala, having a
rough conic Stylus, or rudiment of the Fruit: which, when
the Petala fall, increases to the bigness and shape of a
large Walnut, thick set with knobs or risings; from every of which,
when the Fruit is ripe, is discharged flat Seeds of the bigness
of French Beans, having a kernel within a thin Shell, covered
with a red Skin. These red Seeds, when discharged from their cells,
fall not to the ground, but are supported by small white threads
of about two Inches long. The Fruit at first is green; when ripe,
red; and when declining, it turns brown: They grow naturally in
moist places, and often in shallow Water; and what is extraordinary,
they being removed on high dry ground, become more regular and handsomer
Trees, and are more prolific of flowers and fruit: They usually
lose their leaves in Winter, except it be moderate.
This beautiful flowring Tree is a Native both of Virginia
and Carolina, and is growing at Mr. Fairchild's in
Hoxton, and at Mr. Collinson's at Peckham,
where it has for some years past produced its fragrant Blossoms,
requiring no protection from the Cold of our severest Winters.
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