IN the reproduction of this quaint and curious treatise, which is one of the earliest, on the Natural History of New England , it has been the intention of the Publisher to enhance its value as a literary curiosity, by making it as nearly as possible an exact Fac-simile of the original edition, in accordance with the projected plan of a series of reprints, in which the present work is comprised. In the furtherance of this intention, the precise orthography, punctuation, and also the arrangement,

MR. John Josselyn, the writer of this book, was only brother, as he says, to Henry Josselyn, Esq., many years of Black Point in Scarborough, Me.; and both were sons to Sir Thomas Josselyn, Knt., of Kent, whose name is at the head of the new charter obtained by Sir Ferdinando Gorges for his Province in 1639, but who did not come to this country. Mr. Henry Josselyn was at Piscataqua, in the interest of Capt. John Mason, at least as early as 1634; but, in 1636, he is one of the Council of Gorges’s

New-Englands RARITIES Discovered: IN Birds , Beasts , Fishes , Serpents , and Plants of that Country. Together with The Physical and Chyrurgical Remedies wherewith the Natives constantly use to Cure their Distempers , Wounds , and Sores . ALSO A perfect Description of an Indian SQUA , in all her Bravery; with a POEM not improperly conferr’d upon her. LASTLY A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE of the most remarkable Passages in that Country amongst the English . Illustrated with CUTS . By JOHN JOSSELYN , Gent.

The Humming Bird. The Humming Bird , the least of all Birds, little bigger than a Dor , of variable glittering Colours, they feed upon Honey, which they suck out of Blossoms {7} and Flowers with their long Needle-like Bills; they sleep all Winter, and are not to be seen till the Spring, at which time they breed in little Nests, made up like a bottom of soft, Silk-like matter, their Eggs no bigger than a white Pease, they hatch three or four at a time, and are proper to this Country. The Troculus

The Bear, which are generally Black. [46] The Bear , they live four months in Caves, that is all Winter; in the Spring they bring forth their young ones, they seldome have above three Cubbs in a litter, are very fat in the Fall of the Leaf with feeding upon Acorns, at which time they are excellent Venison; their Brains are venomous; They feed much upon water Plantane in the Spring and Summer, and Berries, and also upon a shell-fish called a Horse-foot ; and are never mankind, i.e. fierce, but in

Pliny and Isadore write there are not above 144 Kinds of Fishes, but to my knowledge there are nearer 300: I suppose America was not known to Pliny and Isadore . A Catalogue of Fish, that is, of those that are to be seen between the English Coast and America, and those proper to the Countrey . Alderling. Alize , Alewife , because great-bellied; Olafle , Oldwife , Allow . [63] Anchova or Sea Minnow . Aleport. Albicore. [64] Barble. Barracha. Barracoutha , a fish peculiar to the West-Indies . [65]

The Pond Frog. [103] The Pond Frog , which chirp in the Spring like Sparows , and croke like Toads in Autumn: Some of these when they set upon their breech are a Foot high; the Indians will tell you, that up in the Country there are Pond Frogs as big as a Child of a year old. For Burns, Scalds, and Inflammations. They are of a glistering brass colour, and very fat, which is excellent for Burns and Scaldings, to take out the Fire, and heal them, leaving no Scar; and is also very good to take away

A Bug. There is a certain kind of Bug like a Beetle , but of a glittering brass colour, with four strong Tinsel Wings; their Bodies are full of Corruption or white Matter like a Maggot; being dead, and kept awhile, they will stench odiously; they beat the Humming Birds from the Flowers. {40} The Wasp. The Wasps in this Countrey are pied, black and white, breed in Hives made like a great Pine Apple, their entrance is at the lower end, the whole Hive is of an Ash Colour, but of what matter its mad

H edghog-grass. [106] Mattweed. [107] Cats-tail. [108] Stichwort , commonly taken here by ignorant People for Eyebright ; it blows in June . [109] Blew Flower-de-luce ; the roots are not knobby, but long and streight, and very white, with a multitude of strings. [110] To provoke Vomit and for Bruises. It is excellent for to provoke Vomiting, and for Bruises on the Feet or Face. They Flower in June , and grow upon dry sandy Hills as well as in low wet Grounds. Yellow bastard Daffodill ; it flower

To ripen any Impostume or Swelling. For sore Mouths. The New-Englands standing Dish. I ndian Wheat, of which there is three sorts, yellow, red, and blew; the blew is commonly Ripe before the other a Month: Five or Six Grains of Indian Wheat hath produced in one year 600. It is hotter than our Wheat and clammy; excellent in Cataplasms to ripen any Swelling or impostume. The decoction of the blew Corn, is good to wash sore Mouths with: It is light of digestion, and the English make a kind of Loblo

(1.) P irola , or Winter Green , that kind which grows with us in England is common in New-England , [228] but there is another plant which I judge to be a kind of Pirola , and proper to this Country, a very beautiful Plant; The shape of the Leaf and the just bigness of it you may see in the Figure. The Ground whereof is a Sap Green, embroydered (as it were) with many pale yellow Ribs, the whole Plant in shape is {68} like Semper vivum , but far less, being not above a handful high, with one sle

C ouch Grass. [240] Shepherds Purse. [241] Dandelion. [242] Groundsel. [243] Sow Thistle. [244] Wild Arrach. [245] Night Shade , with the white Flower. [246] Nettlestinging , which was the first Plant taken notice of. [247] Mallowes. [248] {86} Plaintain , which the Indians call English-Mans Foot , as though produced by their treading. [249] Black Henbane. [250] Wormwood. [251] Sharp pointed Dock. [252] Patience. [253] Bloodwort. [254] And I suspect Adders Tongue . [255] Knot Grass. [256] Cheek

C abbidge growes there exceeding well. Lettice. Sorrel. Parsley. Marygold. French Mallowes. Chervel. Burnet. Winter Savory. Summer Savory. Time. Sage. Carrats. Parsnips of a prodigious size. Red Beetes. {88} Radishes. Turnips. Purslain. [263] Wheat. [264] Rye. Barley , which commonly degenerates into Oats . Oats. Burnet. Winter Savory. Summer Savory. Time. Sage. Carrats. Parsnips of a prodigious size. Red Beetes. {88} Radishes. Turnips. Purslain. [263] Wheat. [264] Rye. Barley , which commonly d

Of Stones, Minerals, Metals and Earths . [279] As first, the Emrald which grows in flat Rocks, and is very good. Rubies , which here are very watry. I have heard a story of an Indian , that found a stone, up in the Country, by a great Pond as big as an Egg, that in a dark Night would give a light to read by; but I take it to be but a story. Diamond , which are very brittle, and therefore of little worth. Crystal , called by our West Country Men the Kenning Stone ; by Sebegug Pond is found in con

The Star Fish , [282] having fine points like a Star, the whole Fish no bigger than the Palm of a Mans hand, of a tough substance like leather, and about an Inch in thickness, whitish underneath, and of the Colour of a Cucumber above, and somewhat ruff: When it is warm in ones hand, you may perceive a stiff motion, turning down one point, and thrusting up another: It is taken to be poysonous; they are very common, and found thrown up on the Rocks by the Sea side. Sea Bream , which are plentifull

Now (gentle Reader) having trespassed upon your patience a long while in the perusing of these rude Observations, I shall, to make you amends, present you by way of Divertisement, or Recreation, with a Coppy of Verses made sometime since upon the Picture of a young and handsome Gypsie , not improperly transferred upon the Indian SQUA , or Female Indian , trick’d up in all her bravery. The Men are somewhat Horse Fac’d, and generally Faucious, i.e. without Beards; but the Women many of them {100}

Of the most remarkable passages in that part of America, known to us by the name of NEW-ENGLAND. [287] A nno Dom. 1492. Christ. Columbus discovered America . 1516. The Voyage of Sir Thomas Pert , Vice Admiral of England , and Sir Sebastian Cabota to Brazile, &c. 1527. New-found-Land , discovered by the English . 1577. Sir Francis Drake began his Voyage about the World . {104} 1585. Nova Albion discovered by Sir Francis Drake , and by him so Named. 1585. April 9. Sir Richard Greenevile wa