Southward from Guadalupe, and at the same Latitude with Marigalante, lie four Curious sorts of Shells. desolate Isles, call’d Todos Sanctos, and on their Shores a sort of Shell-fish call’d Lambis, from the resemblance of a Tongue; the Shells whereof the Indians Sound in stead of Horns when they give an Alarm; as also another sort call’d Porcelenes, of which the most esteem’d are without of a Carnation, and within of a Silver, or Skye-colour mix’d with Golden Beams. The next are the Black, mix’d with a pale Blue, and little Veins. But the most remarkable Shells are those, whose Back Nature hath mark’d in such a manner with Musical Notes, that one might almost express a Tune by them.
Mother-of-Pearl Oysters.
Moreover, it would amaze the Beholder, to see the Mother-of-Pearl Oyster moving at the Foot of a Rock; for at the Rising of the Sun they appear above the Water, and gape for the Dew, of which they have no sooner receiv’d a Drop, but they close their Shells, and fall to the Ground again.
Sect. XIX.
De Aves.
Situation of De Aves.
Westward from Todos Sanctos, at fifteen Degrees and forty five Minutes, lies the Isle De Aves.
Aigrettos.
Besides Ducks, Pluvers, Moor-hens, Geese, and the like Fowls (that suffer themselves to be catch’d by the Hands of Men, which are very strange to them) there are here also many rare sorts of Birds, as the white Birds call’d Aigrettos, which are somewhat bigger than Crows, with red Bills and Feet, and curious Plumes on their Heads; they often flye a great way off at Sea.
Craw-fowl.
The large Bird call’d The Craw-fowl, which feeds on Fish, hath a thick Head, a long flat Bill, hollow Eyes, and a short Neck, under which hangs the Maw, big enough to contain a Pail full of Water: On the Trees along the Sea-side they watch for Fish which swim near the top of the Water, and by their attentiveness on their Prey, are easily shot themselves.