CHAP. VI. _Of the Beasts that live on the land._ Having related unto you the pleasant situation of the Countrey, the healthfulnesse of the climate, the nature of the soile, with his vegetatives, and other commodities; it will not be amisse to informe you of such irrationall creatures as are daily bred and continually nourished in this countrey, which doe much conduce to the well being of the Inhabitants, affording not onely meate for the belly, but cloathing for the backe. The beasts be as followeth. _The kingly Lyon, and the strong arm'd Beare The large lim'd Mooses, with the tripping Deare, Quill darting Porcupines, and Rackcoones bee, Castelld in the hollow of an aged tree; The skipping Squerrell, Rabbet, purblinde Hare, Immured in the selfesame Castle are, Least red-eyd Ferrets, wily Foxes should Them undermine, if rampird but with mould. The grim fac't Ounce, and ravenous howling Woolfe, Whose meagre paunch suckes like a swallowing gulfe. Blacke glistering Otters, and rich coated Bever, The Civet sented Musquash smelling ever._ Concerning Lyons, I will not say that I ever saw any my selfe, but some affirme that they have seene a Lyon at _Cape Anne_ which is not above six leagues from _Boston_: some likewise being lost in woods, have heard such terrible roarings, as have made them much agast; which must eyther be Devills or Lyons; there being no other creatures which use to roare saving Beares, which have not such a terrible kind of roaring: besides, _Plimouth_ men have traded for Lyons skinnes in former times. But sure it is that there be Lyons on that Continent, for the _Virginians_ saw an old Lyon in their plantations, who having lost his Iackall, which was wont to hunt his prey, was brought so poore that he could goe no further. For Beares they be common, being a great blacke kind of Beare, which be most feirce in Strawberry time, at which time they have young ones; at this time likewise they will goe upright like a man, and clime trees, and swimme to the Islands; which if the _Indians_ see, there will be more sportfull Beare bayting than Paris Garden can affoard. For seeing the Beares take water, an _Indian_ will leape after him, where they goe to water cuffes for bloody noses, and scratched sides; in the end the man gets the victory, riding the Beare over the watery plaine till he can beare him no longer. In the winter they take themselves to the clifts of rockes, and thicke swamps, to shelter them from the cold; and foode being scant in those cold and hard times, they live onely by sleeping and sucking their pawes, which keepeth them as fat as they are in Summer; there would be more of them if it were not for the Woolves, which devoure them; a kennell of those ravening runnagadoes, setting on a poore single Beare, will teare him as a Dogge will teare a Kid: it would be a good change if the countrey