POULTRY. FISH. MILK. FRUITS. 259 



it is almost impossible to preserve young turkeys from the attacks 

 of the former distemper. Ducks are much less liable to disease, 

 but the breed is confined mainly to the musk species (Anas 

 moschata) , though a few of the European species are here and 

 there to be met with. The opossum, the tiger-cat, and a large 

 species of falcon or hawk are great enemies to grown fowls, and 

 a large lizard, the mato (local) , to young ones ; alligators, also, 

 sometimes make havoc among ducks. However, except turkeys, 

 the island produces poultry in nearly sufficient quantity for its 

 own consumption. 



Pigeons are scarce, and are seldom sold in the markets. The 

 price for a pair is 50 cents ; for a fowl, from 50 to 70 ; for a 

 capon, from 80 cents to 1 dollar; ducks (a pair), 1 dollar to 1 

 dollar 50 cents; turkeys (a pair), from 2 dollars 50 cents to 

 3 dollars 50 cents; the latter are mostly from the main, and 

 are sold on board of the launches from 1 dollar 60 cents to 2 

 dollars ; Guinea birds, from 1 dollar 50 cents to 2 dollars per 

 pair. 



Fish. The market is tolerably well supplied with the follow- 

 ing, viz., snappers, king- fish, groupers, mullets, baracoutas, 

 and lebranches. A species of carangue, known here by the 

 name of anchovy, is very abundant from the end of June to the 

 middle of July. During the dry weather, the cascaradura (a 

 pond fish) is also sold in the markets ; it is much esteemed by 

 the natives. 



There is, in addition to the above, a good supply of turtle, 

 principally from the Main ; morocoys, or land tortoises, are also 

 sold during Lent, and at other seasons. 



Crustacea and Mollusca. The following are in great and 

 general use : Sea and land crabs, cray-fish, shrimps, lobsters, 

 palourdes, or muscles, cockles, and chipchips ; oysters, although 

 good and plentiful, are seldom offered for sale in the market. 



Milk is not so plentiful as it ought to be ; but it may be had, 

 of good quality, for ten cents a quart bottle. 



Fruits. In Trinidad are found all those fruits which are the 

 produce of tropical climates : bananas (Musa sapientum), five or 

 six varieties ; mangoes (Mangifera indica) , in abundance ; excellent . 

 oranges (Citrus aurantium), five or six varieties; Malacca apples 

 (Eugenia) ; pine apples (Ananassa sativa) ; mammee apples 

 (Mammea Americana) ; four or five varieties of sapodillas (Achras 



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