BIRDS and BEASTS. 3 ix 



All forts of pigeons fucceed and multiply 

 greatly here. 



The geefc thrive well : they are lefs than 

 ours, and like our wild gecfe ; (o on the 

 contrary their wild getfe are like our tame 

 ones* 



They are perfeft matters in the management: 

 of ducks. The breeding of thefe birds is a 

 thing of the next confequence to the breeding 

 of fwine, which the Cbinefe take fo much pains 

 about : and as ducks are a daily diih at the 

 tables of people of quality, the great confump- 

 tion thereof requires a great breed. The con- 

 tinual warmth of the weather, and the conve- 

 niencies of the river, greatly promote their 

 growth : for they can be fed at a triflng ex- 

 pence, with little fry, and crabs which remain 

 on the rice-fields after the water is run off. 

 Many people at Canton earn their fubfittence 

 merely by bringing up ducks ; fome buy up 

 the eggs and trade with them, others hatch 

 them in' ovens, and others attend on the young 

 ones. They lay an iron plate* on a brick 

 hearth ; on this they place a box full of fand 

 X 4 half 



