GLEANINGS FROM TIIE CALCUTTA MARKET. 497 



974 and 975. — Podiceps cristatus, Lin. t and P. minor, Gm. — 

 Both occur, the latter commonly, the former perhaps six or eight 

 times in the season — both are freely bought, sold and eaten as 

 "Duck*"! 



Of the Gnlls and Terns little need be said, except that but 

 few come in, but that what do come find a ready sale as 

 " Pillowa'"' ? Do you give it up ? anglice, (though they fancy 

 they are talking first quality English) Plover ! 



The only species I have seen are Larus ichthyatus, ridibundus 

 and brunneicephaltis, Sterna anglica, indica, seena and melano- 

 gastra, and Rhynchops albicollis. 



Pelican used, I hear, to be brought into the market, but I 

 have seen none for several years. 



The Bilak Dook (Black Duck) alias Phalacrocorax pygmatus, 

 is manifestly a favourite dish with the European nobility and 

 gentry of Calcutta, but the natives never buy them except 

 for their masters ! 



I may add a few words about prices, which have enormously 

 increased during recent years. 



It is not so long ago that the finest Duck, say a male Pintail 

 or red-crested Pochard, in first-class condition, could be bought as 

 a rule for 4 annas, and I have bought them when the market 

 was rather overstocked for 3 annas a piece. 



This year large first-class Ducks have never been below 8 annas, 

 have generally been up to 10 annas, and on some mornings, 

 during dark periods of the moon, have sold at 11 to 12 annas. 



Brahmin's, i.e., Buddy Shelldrake, which are wretched 

 eating, and which used to sell for from 8 to 10 annas, have this 

 year sold for from Re. 1 to 1-12 each ! It seems perfectly asto- 

 nishing that people should pay such prices for such wretched 

 birds. As for Geese, the old price of which was 12 annas, they 

 have never been down to Re. 1, but as far as I could see, they 

 never ranged as high as the Shelldrake, although larger and infi- 

 nitely better eating. There is no accounting for these things. 



Snipe, a few years ago, were ahvaj-s at least 8 for the rupee ; 

 often I have known them go at ten or even twelve. This 

 year they have only once been down to six, and with this ex- 

 ception they have varied from four to five according to the 

 supply in the market. The regular price for the spotted Sand 

 Piper used to be 8 annas a score. They have fetched 2 annas 

 a piece on more than one occasion this year. 



Trinfin minuta used td be 4 for one anna ; you can hardly 

 get 3 for 2 annas now. Compared with European rates the prices 

 are still moderate, but the rise has been very great and rapid, and 

 if this kind of thing goes on, water-fowl will, in a few years, 

 become a luxury too expensive for people generally to indulge in. 



