Passer Niger, Oculis Rubris: The Towhe-bird. This Bird is about the size of, or rather bigger than a Lark: The
Bill black and thick: The iris of the Eye red: The Head, Neck, Breast,
Back, and Tail, black; as are the Wings, with the larger Quill-Feathers
edged with white. The lower part of the Breast and Belly white;
which, on each side, is of a muddy red, extending along its Wings.
The Legs and Feet are brown.
The Hen is brown, with a tincture of red on her Breast. It is
a solitary Bird; and one seldom sees them but in Pairs. They breed
and abide all the Year in Carolina in the shadiest Woods.
Passer Fusca: The Cowpen Bird.
This Bird is entirely brown, the Back being darkest, and the Breast
and Belly the lightest part of it. In Winter they associate with
the Red-wing'd Starling and Purple Jack-daw in Flights. They delight
much to feed in the Pens of Cattle, which has given them their Name.
Not having seen any of them in Summer, I believe they are Birds
of Passage. They inhabit Virginia and Carolina.
Populus nigra maximo gemmis Balsamum odoratissimum fundentibus:
The Black Poplar of Carolina.
This Tree grows only near Rivers, above the inhabited parts of
Carolina. They are large and very tall. In April,
at which time only I saw them, they had dropt their Seeds; which,
by the Remains, I could only perceive to hang its Clusters, with
a Cotton-like Consistence covering them. Upon the large swelling
Buds of this Tree sticks a very odoriferous Balsam. The leaves are
indented about the edges, and very broad, resembling in shape the
Black Poplar, described by Parkinson.
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