WHAT BEFELL A HUNTER. "Two men going a fowling, appointed at evening to meet at a certain pond side, to share equally, and to return home; one of these gunners having killed a Seal or Sea-calf, brought it to the pond where he was to meet his comrade, afterwards returning to the sea-side for more game, and having loaded himself with more Geese and Ducks he repaired to the pond, where he saw a great Bear feeding on his seal, which caused him to throw down his load, and give the Bear a salute; which though it was but with goose-shot, yet tumbled him over and over; whereupon the man supposing him to be in a manner dead, ran and beat him with the handle of his gun. The Bear perceiving him to be such a coward to strike him when he was down, scrambled up, standing at defiance with him, scratching his legs, tearing his cloaths and face, who stood it out till his six foot gun was broken in the middle; then being deprived of his weapon, he ran up to the shoulders into the pond, where he remained till the Bear was gone, and his mate come in, who accompanied him home." The author gives a peculiar description of the animals named. Of the lion, he says he had never seen one; but others "lost in the woods have heard such terrible roarings as have made them much agast: which must be either Devils or Lions;" so lions have it. The moose "is as big as an ox, slow of foot, headed like a Buck, with a broad beam, some being two yards wide in the head; their flesh is as good as beef, their hides good for cloathing." He describes deer, rabbits, squirrels, &c. The small squirrel troubles the planters so, that they have "to carry their Cats into the corn-fields till their corn be three weeks old." "The beasts of offence be Squncks, Ferrets, Foxes, whose impudence sometimes diverts them to the good Wives Hen-roost, to fill their paunch." He gives a fearful account of the wolves, which set on swine, goats, calves, &c., and care nothing for a dog. Equally curious with these are his descriptions of the "beasts living in the water," as the otter, musquash, &c., and of "the birds and fowls, both of land and water." "The princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk, Whom in their unknown ways there's none can chalk; The Humbird for some Queen's rich cage more fit, Than in the vacant wilderness to sit; The swift-winged Swallow sweeping to and fro, As swift as arrows from Tartarian bow; When as Aurora's infant day new springs, There th' morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings; The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Who to her mate does ever constant prove; The Turkey-pheasant, Heathcock, Partridge rare, The carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare." The raven, screech-owl, heron, cormorant, and so on to geese, gulls, mallards, teal, ducks, snipes, and many others. The fish also are rehearsed in verse:--