Muscicapa Cristata Ventre Luteo: The crested Fly-Catcher. Weighs one Ounce. The Bill is black and broad; the Upper-part of
the Body of a muddy Green; the Neck and Breast of a Lead-Colour;
the Belly yellow; the Wings brown, having most of the Vanes of the
Quill-Feathers edg'd with Red. The two middle Feathers of the Tail
are all brown; The interior Vanes of the Rest are red. The Legs
and Feet black. It breeds in Carolina and Virginia,
but retires in Winter.
This Bird by its ungrateful brawling Noise, seems at Variance and
displeased with all others.
Smilax Bryoniae nigrae foliis caule spinoso, baccis nigris.
This plant shoots forth with many pliant thorny Stems; which, when
at full Bigness, are as big as a Walking Cane, and jointed; and
rises to the Height usally of twenty Feet, climbing upon and spreading
over the adjacent Trees and shrubs, by the Assistance o f its Tendrels.
In Autumn it produces Clusters of black round Berries, hanging pendent
to a Foot-Stalk, above three Inches long, each Berry containing
a very hard roundish Seed. The Roots of this Plant are tuberous
divided into many Knots and joints; and, when first dug out of the
Ground, are soft and juicy, but harden in the Air to the Consistence
of Wood. Of these Roots the Inhabitants of Carolina make a Diet-Drink,
attributing great Virtues to it in cleansing the Blood &c. They
likewise in the Spring boil the tender Shoots and eat them prepared
like Asparagus. 'Tis call'd there China Root.
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