in coming to this country, eating was not beyond a secondary consideration, to say the least of it; and a market of supplies for the material man became an important consideration then, and has been so ever since. Dr. Johnson, who loved a good dinner and rarely found it at home, thought "a tavern was the throne of human felicity;" but, of course, such a notion as that never entered the minds of the Puritans. The first thanksgiving was for the safe arrival of the party, and the next was for the arrival of the "Lion," or some other ship, with a supply of food; and this, it is supposed, was not bartered off for furs. Indian corn, which was a new thing to the settlers, was for a long time the principal diet, occasionally modified with fish; but the truth is, how the settlers managed to live through all this time, in such a climate, up to the times that we know something about, is a complete mystery. Capt. Roger Clapp, who arrived at Hull on the 30th of May, 1630, about a fortnight before Gov. Winthrop arrived at Salem, and who died in 1690-91, described the state of things "in those days," in the following words:-- "It was not accounted a strange thing in those Days to drink Water, and to eat Samp or Hominie without Butter or Milk. Indeed, it would have been a strange thing to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton or Veal; though it was not long before there was Roast Goat. After the first Winter, we were very Healthy; though some of us had no great Store of Corn. The Indians did sometimes bring Corn, and Truck with us for Cloathing and Knives; and once I had a Peck of Corn or thereabouts, for a little Puppy-Dog. Frost-fish, Muscles and Clams were a Relief to many." ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES. Wood, in his famous "New England's Prospect," gives some particulars about game and hunting among the early settlers in 1639:-- "Having related unto you the pleasant situation of the country, the healthfulness of the climate, the nature of the soil, with his vegetatives, and other commodities; it will not be amiss to inform you of such irrational creatures as are daily bred, and continually nourished in this country, which do much conduce to the well-being of the inhabitants, affording not only meat for the belly, but cloathing for the back. The beasts be as followeth:-- "The kingly Lion, and the strong arm'd Bear, The large limb'd Mooses, with the tripping Deer; Quill-darting Porcupines, and Raccoons be Castel'd in the hollow of an aged tree; The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare, Immured in the self same castle are, Lest red-ey'd Ferret, wily Foxes should Them undermine, if rampir'd but with mould; The grim-fac'd Ounce, and rav'nous howling Wolf, Whose meagre paunch sucks like a swallowing gulf; Black glistering Otters, and rich coated Bever, The Civet scented Musquash smelling ever."