333 



IReminiscenccs of Birt) (Tollcctinci an^ a 

 Sbopping IDisit to Calcutta 2)ealei5. 



By Captain G. A. PerrEau. 



{Co7iimued Jrom page 279). 



The thing that fetched me, even me, intent only on seed- 

 eaters, was tlie number and variety of frnit- and insect-eaters. 

 Tliere were some of the insectivoia in the morning, and duriiig 

 tlie time I lived in Calcutta, I had always seen a good number 

 and variety, but this was something quite different. I found 

 the}' were being collected for some large Knglish dealer. 

 When next in Kngland I hope to visit the dealer I think it was, 

 and perhaps he will let me know if I am right, and also if I 

 am correct in fancying that he did not get much profit out of 

 that lot. I followed the advertisements in the bird papers 

 pretty carefully for an expected influx of rare Australian (a bit 

 later) and Indian birds ; the former I found, but, bar a sudden 

 drop in the price of Pekin Robins, there was no trace of the 

 latter. There were cages and cages of this bird, all ver}' 

 crowded and looking very well and happ\'. I fell to two pairs 

 at a rather higher price than that for which they were procur- 

 able at home some two months later, not very ruinous. I also 

 fell to two pairs of Blue-winged vSivas, of which there were a 

 few in a large cage, and to four Zosterops : why I took these I 

 don't know, except that I am fond of them and thought I 

 would like to have them in camp. Neither survived long. I 

 also nearh' succumbed to Niltavas and Fruitsuckers. Shamas, 

 Dyals, and such like gave me no temptation, and the larger 

 Thrushes and Jays did not interest me, at any rate as far as 

 regards buying, though the Peko (at a stiffish price). White- 

 crested Laughing Thrushes, Black-headed Sibias, vSilver-eared 

 Mesias, Black-throated and other Jays commanded attention. 

 There were many other sorts which I do not remember as I did 

 not identify them at the time, as, to me, just then they were 

 just a Thrush or a Jay as the case might be. I know there were 

 a few Pittas and crates and crates of the Black Hill Mynali 

 were brought in while I was there. 



