CHAP. XVI. Of the Eggs of divers Birds in Islands.
BEcause it is not safe for Water-Fowl to lay their Eggs on firm Land, or to produce their young ones far trom the Waters, for fear of hurtful Beasts, as Foxes and Weesils: therefore by the Instinct of Nature, many thousands of them, of divers kinds, live in Islands, (as there are infinite of them in the North) and upon naked tops of Rocks: and some of them make their Nests upon the bare flint, some upon dry s••raw, or grasse, and lay innumerable Eggs there: and all that sail thither take them freely, that they will gather great Vessels full of them, and bring them to Market to sell, or th••y will take off their shels, and with Salt, they will keep them for to eat at home for a long time, as they are very good meat; though the Fowls be wild: Yet the Duck brings forth her young ones on Land, near the Waters or Islands. Amongst those Birds, there is the Fen-Duck, or More Hen of a black colour, of the kind of Dy-pappers, and is lesse than a Duck: she dwels in the Sea, and about Lakes, wandring not, but remai∣ning where she was bred. She lives on the Carkasses of Fish, that devouring Birds let fall: and besides, she hunts craftily for others amongst the Rocks; and she again freely parts with what she catcheth, to other Birds: She rejoyceth in Tempests, for then she dives and plays in the Waters. When she cryes in the morning, she fore-shews a Tempest.