44 A SPRING TOUR IN PORTUGAL. 



here called a ^ pheasant,' was occasionally seen ; red-legged 

 partridges were in abundance ; wild duck and teal in toler- 

 able plenty ; quails in immense profusion ; while bunches 

 of larks, pipits, finches, and warblers of all sorts, soft- 

 billed and hard-billed in the same bouquet, and all tied 

 by the neck, adorned the various stalls from one end to 

 another. And here, too, delicacy of taste was not re- 

 garded, for on one occasion a kestrel hawk, and on another 

 a common buzzard, were amongst the tempting dainties 

 offered me for sale ; and I was especially bidden to observe 

 how fat and plump they were. However, ^de rjustibus non 

 est disjDutanduin: ' and the Lisbonites only share, in their 

 taste for rank game, with their neighbours on the other 

 side of the Pyrenees; for there too, and even in Provence, 

 renowned for its cuisine, I have met with the common buz- 

 zard at the poulterer's stall, and recommended too, as an 

 especially dainty dish. 



But we must return to the fruit and vegetables, which 

 I have already said occupied the great area of the market, 

 and here the productions of a southern climate are espe- 

 cially conspicuous. Of course, all the world knows that 

 Lisbon is famous for its oranges, and certainl}' the perfec- 

 tion to which that excellent fruit attains can scarcely be 

 rightly estimated but by those who eat the mi n the sunny 

 land where they are grown, and soon after they are gathered 

 from the tree, and before the freshness and delicate aroma 

 are worn off. Moreover, the profusion of oranges was 

 something marvellous ; such mountains of rich golden 

 fruit piled on the ground, such huge baskets of the 

 choice>t sorts picked out for a higher price ; but even 

 then it was glorious to see what a quantity could be 

 purchased for a penny ; and I recollect, during a short 

 railway excursion one day from Lisbon, how we filled all 

 our pockets with most magnificent naranja, and our 

 hands as well, and all for three half-pence, which we 



