14G 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



[Chap. I. 



common 6ort there was a dead loss upon the cost in England of about an 

 average of 7 per cent. Tlie following are decidedly among the fancies : 



1 pair of wliite swans, $1^0 > 1 white female swan, $50 ; 1 black female 

 swan, $00 ; 1 pair of black swans, $00; 1 pair of Japanese peacocks, $100 ; 

 1 pair of Barnacle geese, $10 ; 3 hoop-bill ducks, $75 ; 1 pair of golden 

 plieasants, $18 ; 4 pair of English pheasants, at $10, $11, and $15 per pair ; 

 .3 male golden pheasants, at $5, $8 50, and $12 50 each ; 3 male silver 

 pheasants, at $10, $l0 50, and $10 each ; 1 pair of Call ducks, $15 ; 1 shel- 

 drake duck, $10 ; 3 spoon-bill ducks, $15 ; 1 pair of pin-tail ducks, $10 ; 

 1 pair of widgeon ducks, $12 ; 1 pair of widgeon ducks, $7 ; 3 widgeon 

 ducks, $9. 



But the climax of fancy prices was reached in the sale of one pair of Man- 

 darin ducks for $150. This was a beautiful pair of very rare birds, and wc 

 hope will remain rare — that is, that no more will ever be imported at that 

 jirice. It was said that they cost 75 guineas in England. Mr. Earnum 

 ofl'ered $35 advance upon the purchaser's bargain. They are about the size 

 of our common wood duck, and of just about equal beauty. It is certainly 

 somewhat extraordinary that, with money " tight" with most peojjle, any 

 one can find loose change enough to buy ducks at $150 a pair. 



The sales of Shanghaes, and Ijirds in that line, went off at what the owner 

 called " sickly prices." The following indicate the prevailing rates : 



1 pair of gray Dorkings, $10 ; 3 gray Dorkings, $15 ; 6 Sebright bantams, 

 in two lots, $5 each ; 2 Sebright bantams, hens, $2 each ; 3 Golden bantams, 

 $1 67 each ; 3 English bantams, $1 25 each ; 3 English bantams, $2 37 

 each ; 4 Bramahpootras, 1 cock and 3 hens, $2 50 each ; 1 Poland hen, 

 $1 25 ; 1 Bolton Gray hen, $1 25 ; 1 pair of Golden Ilamburghs, $2 25 ; 1 

 pair of black Spanish fowls, $10 ; 1 pair of black Spanish fowls, $5 50 ; 2 

 black Shanghae hens, $3. 



Turkeys. — 1 pair of beautiful white turkeys, $5. 



Geese. — 2 pair of Barnacle geese, $12 and $14 ; 2 pair of Egyptian geese, 

 $10 and $10. 



200. Consumption of Poultry in New York. — To give some idea of the 

 quantity of ]>oultry consumed in New York, we give the following extracts 

 from an article published about Christmas, 1857 : 



" On Dec. 23d the American Express Company had three car-loads to 

 deliver from their depot in Duane Street, and about 11 tuns received from 

 Albany by the steamer.- On Dec. 24th their receipts are stated in round 

 numl)ers at 40 tuns, making about 80 tuns received in two days by only one 

 transportation line. 



" This Company's freight was nearly all from this State and Vermont, 

 Mith a little from western Pennsylvania, and a very small portion from 

 Ohio. A large quantity also came from the river counties by steamers and 

 barges on the Hudson, as the mildness of the winter has enabled them to 

 keep running. Western New York also sent in great quantities by the Erie 

 Railroad, while every New Jersey railroad and numerous wagons brought 



