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Catesby obferves, that the birds of America generally exceed thofe of Europe in the beauty of their plumage, but are much inferior to them in the melody of their notes.

The WATER PELICAN inhabits the Miffiffippi. Its pouch holds a peck.

The LARK is a lofty bird, and foars as high as any of the inhabitants of the airy region. Hence the old proverb, When the sky falls we fhall

catch larks.'

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The WHIP-POOR-WILL is remarkable for the plaintive melody of its notes. It acquires its name from the noife it makes, which to th' people of the States founds Whip-poor-will, to the Indians Muck-a-wifs. A ftriking proof how differently the fame founds impress different perfons!

The Loos is a water fowl, of the fame fpecies of the Dobchick. It is an exceedingly nimble bird, and to expert at diving, that it is with great difficulty killed.

The PARTRIDGE. In fome parts of the country there are three or four different kinds of Partridges, all of them larger than the Partridges of Europe. What is called the Quail in New-England, is denominated Partridge in the fouthern ftates, where the true Partridge is net to be found,

The WAKON-BIRD, which probably is of the fame fpecies with the Bird of Paradife, receives its name from the ideas the Indians have of its fuperior excellence; the Wakon-bird being in their language the bind of the Great Spirit. It is nearly the size of the fwallow, of a brown colour, Shaded about the neck with a bright green. The wings are of a darker

brown

brown than the body. Its tail is compofed of four or five feathers, which are three times as long as its body, and which are beautifully fhaded with green and purple. It carries this fine length of plumage in the fame manner as the peacock does his, but it is not known whether like him it ever raifes it to an erect pofition.

The WHETSAW is of the cuckow kind, being, like that, a folitary bird, and fearcely ever feen. In the fummer months it is heard in the groves, where it makes a noife like the filing of a faw, from which circumftance it has received its name.

The HUMMING-BIRD is the fmalleft of all the feathered inhabitants of the air. Its plumage furpaffes defcription. On its head is a small tuft of jetty black; its breaft is red; its helly white; its back, wings and tail of the finest pale green: small specks of gold are fcattered over it with inexpreflible grace; and to crown the whole, an almost imperceptible down foftens the feveral colours, and produces the most pleafing fhades.

Of the Snakes which infest the United States, are the following, viz.

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The THORN-TAIL SNAKE is of a middle fize, and of a very venomous nature. It receives its name from a thorn, like a dart, in its tail, with which it inflicts its wounds.

The JOINT SNAKE is a great curiofity. Its fkin is as hard as parchment, and as fmooth as glafs. It is beautifully ftreaked with black and white. It is fo tiff, and has fo few joints, and thofe fo unyielding, that it can hardly bend itself into the form of a hoop. When it is ftruck, it breaks like a pipe ftem; and you may, with a whip, break it from the tail to the bowels into pieces not an inch long, and not produce the least tincture of blood. It is not venomous.

The Two-HEADED SNAKE. Whether this be a diftinct fpecies of fnakes intended to propagate its kind, or whether it be a monftrous production, is uncertain. The only ones I have known or heard of in this country, are, one taken near Champlain in 1762, and one preserved in the Museum of Yale College, in New-Haven.

The fnakes are not fo numerous nor fo venomous in the northern as in the fouthern ftates. In the latter, however, the inhabitants are furnished

with

with a much greater variety of plants and herbs, which afford immediate relief to perfons bitten by these venomous creatures. It is an obfervation. worthy of perpetual and grateful remembrance, that wherever venomous animals are found, the GoD of nature has kindly provided fufficient antidotes against their poifon.

Of the astonishing variety of INSECTS found in America, we will

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To these may be added the infect, which of late years has proved fo deftructive to the wheat in many parts of the middle and New-England States, commonly, but erroncoully, called the Heffian Fly.

The ALLIGATOR is a fpecies of the crocodile, and in appearance one of the uglieft creatures in the world. They are amphibious, and live in and about creeks, fwamps, and ponds of flagnant water. They are very fond of the flesh of dogs and hogs, which they voraciously devour when they have opportunity. They are alfo very fond of fish, and devour vaft quantities of them. When tired with fifling, they leave the water to bask themselves in the fun, and then appear more like logs of half rotten wood thrown afhore by the current, than living creatures; but upon perceiving any veffel or perfon near them, they immediately throw themfelves into the water. Some are of fo monftrous a fize as to exceed five yards in length. During the time they lie baking on the fhore, they keep their huge mouths wide open till filled with mulketoes, flies, and other infects, when they fuddenly thut their jaws and fwallow their prey.

The alligator is an oviparous creature. The female makes a large hole in the fand near the brink of a river, and there depofits her eggs, which are as white as thofe of a hen, but much larger and more folid. She generally lays about an hundred, continuing in the fame place till they are all depofited, which is a day or two. She then covers them with the fand, and the better to conceal them, rolls herfelf not only over her precious depofitum, but to a confiderable diftance. After this precaution, the returns to the water, and tarries until natural inftinét informs her that it is time to deliver her young from their confinement; fhe then goes to the fpot, attended by the male, and tearing up the fand, begins to break the eggs; but fo carefully that fearce a fingle one is injured, and a whole fwarm of little alligators is feen crawling about. The female then takes them on

her

fend others in their ftead for the remainder of the year. No ftate was to be reprefented in Congrefs by lefs than two, or more than seven members; and no perfon could be a delegate for more than three years, in any term of fix years; nor was any perfon, being a delegate, capable of holding any office under the United States, for which he, or any other for his benefit, fhould receive any falary, fees, or emolument of any kind. In determining questions in Congrefs, each flate was to have one vote, Every ftate was bound to abide by the determinations of Congrefs in all questions which were fubmitted to them by the confederation," The articles of confederation were to be invariably obferved by every state, and the union to be perpetual; nor was any alteration at any time hereafter to be made in any. of the articles, unlefs fuch alterations be agreed to in Congrefs, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every state. The articles of confederation were ratified by Congrefs, July 9, 1778.

Thefe articles of confederation, after eleven years experience, being found inadequate to the purposes of a federal government, for reafons hereafter mentioned, delegates were chofen in each of the United States, to meet and fix upon the neceffary amendments. They accordingly met in convention at Philadelphia, in the fummer of 1787, and agreed to propofe the following conftitution for the confideration of their con Aituents;

WE, the People of the United States, in order to form a more per

fect union, establish juftice, infure domeftic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and fecure the bleffings of liberty to ourselves and our pofterity, do ordain and establish this Conftitution for the United States of America,

ARTICLE I,

Sec. 1. ALL legislative powers herein granted fhall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall confift of a Senate and House of Reprefentatives,

Sec. 2. The House of Reprefentatives fhall be compofed of members chofen every second year by the people of the feveral states, and the electors in each state fhall have the qualifications requifite for electors of the most numerous branch of the ftate legislature,

No perfon fhall be a reprefentative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that fate in which he shall be chofen,

Reprefentatives and direct taxes fhall be apportioned among the feveral ftates which may be included within this Union, according to their refpective numbers, which fhall be determined by adding to the whole number of free perfons, including those bound to fervice for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other perfons, The actual enumeration fhall be made within three years after the firit meeting of the Congrefs of the United States, and within every fubfequent term of ten years, in fuch manner as they fhall by law direct. The number of reprefentatives fhall not exceed one for every thirty thoufand, but each state shall have at least one reprefentative; and until such enumeration fhall be made, the state of New-Hampshire fhall be entitled to

F 3

choole

choose three, Maffachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York fix, New-Jerfey four, Pennfylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland fix, Virginia ten, North-Carolina five, South-Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the reprefentation from any ftate, the Executive authority thereof fhall iffue writs of election to fill fuch vacancies. The House of Reprefentatives fhall choose their Speaker and other officers; and shall have the fole power of impeachment.

Sect. 3. The Senate of the United States fhall be compofed of two fenators from each state, chofen by the legislature thereof, for fix years; and each fenator fhall have one vote.

Immediately after they fhall be affembled in confequence of the first election, they fhall be divided as equally as may be into three claffes. The feats of the fenators of the first clafs fhall be vacated at the expiration of the second year; of the fecond clafs at the expiration of the fourth year; and of the third clafs at the expiration of the fixth year, fo that one-third may be chofen every fecond year; and if vacancies happen by refignation, or otherwife, during the recefs of the legiflature of any ftate, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill fuch vacancies.

No perfon fhall be a fenator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who fhall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that ftate for which he shall be chofen.

The vice-prefident of the United States fhall be president of the fenate, but fhall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The fenate fhall choose their other officers, and alfo a prefident pro tempore, in the abfence of the vice-prefident, or when he fhall exercise the office of prefident of the United States.

The fenate fhall have the fole power to try all impeachments. When fitting for that purpose, they fhall be on oath or affirmation. When the prefident of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall prefide: And no perfon fhall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members prefent.

Judgment in cafes of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and difqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, truft, or profit under the United States; but the party convicted fhall nevertheless be liable and fubject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law.

Sect. 4. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for fenators and reprefentatives, fhall be prefcribed in each ftate by the legislature thereof; but the Congrefs may at any time by law make or alter fuch regulations, except as to the places of choofing fenators.

The Congrefs fhall affemble at least once in every year, and fuch meeting fhall be on the firft Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Sect. 5. Each houfe fhall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each fhall conftitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorised to compel the attendance of abfent

members,

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