Turtur Carolinensis: The Turtle of Carolina.
This is somewhat less than a Dove-house Pigeon: the Eyes black, compassed
with a blew Skin: the Bill black: the upper part of the Head, Neck,
Back, and upper part of the Wings brown: the small feathers of the
Wing, next the Back, have large black spots: the lower part of the
Wing and Quill-feathers of a lead colour, three or four of the longest
being almost black: The Breast and Belly of a pale Carnation colour.
On each side the Neck, the breadth of a Man's Thumb, are two spots
of the colour of burnished Gold, with a tincture of crimson and green;
between which and its Eye is a black spot. The Wings are long, the
Tail much longer, reaching almost five Inches beyond them, and hath
fourteen feathers, the two middle longest, and of equal length, and
all brown; the rest are gradually shorter, having their upper part
lead colour, the middle black, and the end white. The Legs and Feet
are red. They breed in Carolina, and abide there always. They
feed much on the Berries of Poke, i. e. Blitum Virginianum,
which are Poison. They likewise feed on the Seeds of this Plant; and
they are accounted good Meat.
Anapodophyllon Canadense Merini: The May Apple.
This Plant grows about a Foot and half high; the Flower consisting
of several Petala, with many yellow Stamina sourrunding
the seed-vessel, which is oval, unicapsular, and contains many
roundish Seeds. The Leaves of the Plant resemble the Aconitum lycoctonum
luteum C.B. Pin. The Root is said to be an excellent Emetic, and
is used as such in Carolina; which has given it there the Name
of Ipecacuana, the stringy Roots of which it resembles. It
flowers in March; the Fruit is ripe in May; which has
occasioned it in Virginia to be called May-Apple.
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