member it was likely they had come Originally from Barbary. Those who have a mind to consult Authors about them may see, among others these who discourse of them under the following Names, viz.
Locuste Rosse and Gjalle di Cadamosto, f. 17. and 109. Grashoppers of Escarbot. Nova Francia, 210. Of Giros. Purchas, 1425. Of Jo. Dos Sanctos, ib. 1554. Locusts of Schnirdel. Purchas, p. 1359. Ludolf. cap. 10. lib. 1. vers. 16. Comm. 1. 96. p. 168. Numb. 11. 31. Selaw, Coturnix or Quails. Juan de Barros, lib. 1. Decad. 2. p. 16.
When we came into 13°. 10′. Lat. we went due Wedt for Barbados, which is the way not to miss it, because Sailers being sure of the Latitude by Observation they keep in it least they should run by the Island, which being very low Land, and so consequently not visible far off at Sea, may be easily overrun by unwary Seamen. We saw here several Tropick-Birds, and Men of War Birds, the last of which is mentioned by the following Writers.
Caripira de Lact. lib. 15. cap. 13. p. 575. Caripira forked Tails, bringing news of Ships, Anonymus Port. Purchas, p. 1317. Coda inforcata, that is the forked Tail. Ovied.fum. p. 202. An Sea-Mews or Cormorants, Ejusd. ib. p.214? Birds which the Portuguese call Garayos, or Rabos forcados, with Tails like a Taylor's Shears, of Mandelslo, p. 196. Rabi horcados todos Negros, de Oviedo, lib. 14. cap. I. Rabi forcati. Ej. ap. Ramnus, p. 161. Fregattes de Raveneau de Luffan. p. 116. and 218. who observed them at Villia and Guatulco, a Rock in the South-Seas. Fregattes entierement Noirs, Roches, p. 164. Rabi-horcado Hernandez. Birds attending the rising of Flying-Fishes of Ligon, p. 4. Rabo-forcado, and Rabi-horcado, Clus. exot. p. 107. Oyseaux faisans la Chasse aux Poissons. d' Abbeville, p. 52. Fourcades, Ejusd. p. 53? aves furcatæ Laet. p. 601. Fregattes du Tertre, p. 269. Ciseaux de Consturier de Cauche, p. 133. Aves dictæ Rabos forcados, canda bifurcata, Aldrov.Ornith. tom. 3. p. 544. Sea-Fowl chasing the Flying-Fish of Hawkins, Hakl. p. 520. A Man of War of Ligon. p. 61. Of Jo. Davis Purchas, 132.
Of Men of War-Birds This Bird seems very large, bigger than a Kite, and Black; they fly like Kites very high, and often appear immoveable over the water, to wait for, of Men of and catch small Fish appearing on its Surface; they are sharp winged, and War-Birds. their Tail is forked. When Flying-Fishes are persecuted under water by Dolphins, Bonitos, &c. They rise and fly for some space in the Air, and are often devoured by these Birds in that time.
We saw them first when we came near Barbados. The Sailers guess themselves not many days, or about Two hundred Leagues off the Islands when they say them first, and it is wonder'd at how they can direct their Course to the Land at Nights, being so far distant, it seems no very strange matter, because they are very high in the Air, and can see Land much farther then those on the Deck or Top-Mast of a Ship. The Reaſon of their flying so high may be to have a greater Field before them, for Prey, because they may go where they see the Dolphins follow or hunt the Flying Fishes.
They are commonly thought in the West-Indies to foretel the coming in of Ships, for when they see a Man of War-Bird come into their Ports, they reckon Ships will soon follow, and 'tis very often true, for they love to Fish in not very rough Weather, fo that when it blows hard at Sea they come into the Ports and Bays to Fish, where the Wind is broken off by the Land, and the same Wind blowing them in, brings in the Shipping after them.
Where are more of these in the firm Land of America than in the Isles. The Indians of Cuera say the Axungia or Fat of them is very good for taking out Cicatrices and marks, and for the withering of Arms or Legs, and other Diseases. One of these Birds at Panama coming to take Sardinas that were a curing in the Sun a Negro broke his Wing with a Stick he had in his Hand; the Body after it was clear of its Feathers was little bigger than a Pigeon. TheWings
