iwpflL e'lffivi. on the Birds of CalcuttteM Si aU 391 



though so many other kinds of animals, both wild and tame (in- 

 cluding flocks of domestic geese very commonly), are represented 

 again and again. The camel forms another such exception. In 

 the frescos of the Etruscan tombs the domestic fowl is often 

 represented ; and also the eating of eggs ; while egg-shells, the 

 remains of the funeral feast, are generally observed strewed about 

 the floor upon opening a previously unviolated sepulchre. As in 

 the case of the bull, cow, ox, calf, &c, so in that of the bird under 

 consideration, there is no exclusive general name applicable to all 

 individuals of the species, of whatever sex or age, in at least the 

 generality of European languages. Fowl applies, of course, to 

 any bird, as cock and hen apply to the sexes of other species ; and 

 this general absence of a vernacular specific appellation of itself 

 indicates how familiar were our remote ancestors with an exotic 

 species, which they must ultimately have derived or perhaps even 

 brought with them from the far East. I must close however this 

 long digression, but in the hope of having awakened some in- 

 terest in a subject which assuredly is well worthy of further 

 inquiry. 



A word or two may be added on the Turkeys now raised in this 

 country. They are called J Peru/ evidently from the common 

 cry of a turkey ; and are regarded as unclean by the Musselmans, 

 though it is very clear that the indicter of the Koran could not 

 have prohibited to his followers this American bird : the tuft of 

 bristles upon its breast indicates, as they fancy, a certain affinity 

 to the unclean beast ; and perhaps the bald head and neck may 

 suggest some sort of relationship to the Vultures (especially Oto- 

 gyps pondicerianus) , which would scarcely be recommendatory of 

 this noble bird as an article of diet. Those brought to Calcutta 

 are chiefly, if not wholly, raised in Chittagong, and most of 

 them are bought up by people of French descent to be fattened 

 at Chandernagore, when they are resold at considerable profit for 

 the table. All are of a black colour, and very degenerate from 

 the race of tame turkeys in England. They are small, with the 

 naked wattles and long pendulous appendage over the beak 

 enormously developed : poor helpless creatures, utterly incapable 

 of rising upon the wing ; and if suffered to drink their fill, they 

 will greatly incommode themselves by filling out the immense 

 craw. Nevertheless they fatten well and are excellent eating ; 

 and one at least is sacrificed for every dinner party. 



M. SundevalFs Partridge (No. 70 of his list) is Perdix pondi- 

 ceriana, Gm., a very abundant species. Wild peafowls inhabit 

 all suitable localities, and where protected become extremely nu- 

 merous and far from timid. They differ in no respect from the 

 ordinarily coloured tame peafowl of Europe. 



h\ • < iawlim? nifi 



