PREFACE 



SOME apology is perhaps necessary for the title 

 of this book, since the " Ducks " herein dealt 

 with belong not to the quack-quack tribe. 

 "Bombay Ducks" is a time-honoured Anglo- 

 Indian expression. 



In the palmy days of the East India Company, when 

 the now-barren pagoda-tree showered its fruits upon all 

 who shook it, the European residents of the Western 

 Presidency were known as Bombay Ducks to distinguish 

 them from Bengal Qui-his and Madras Mulls. 



In very early times " Ducks " was spelt " Duckys " and 

 is probably a corruption of the Latin duces= leaders or 

 "bosses." 



Dwellers in Bombay are no longer called ducks, 

 nevertheless the expression Bombay Ducks or Bombay 

 Duck still survives. 



It now denotes (I know not why) brittle pieces of 

 sun-dried fish which are eaten with curry in South 

 India. 



It seems to me that the animals dealt with in this 

 volume, all of which are to be found on the " Bombay 

 side," have at least an equal right with pieces of dried 

 fish to be called " Bombay Ducks." 



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