on the Bird Market of Caracas.



253



Humming Birds are given a solution of “papelon” (molasses sugar),

on which they appear to be able to subsist for several days. The

natives are kind to their animals in a general way, and although the

condition of the cages would shock some Members of the Avicultural

Society, the birds are really considered as far as the limited intellect

of the uneducated peon allows ; the cages are covered with banana

leaves in the hot sun or transferred to a shady spot, and the birds

are never left without food and water for any length of time.


The Venezuelan's only requirement of a cage bird is that it

should sing—sing loudly and constantly all day long ; they never

understand why anyone should buy a bird that does not sing.

Their first recommendation of any bird they offered us for sale was

“ it sings very well,” regardless of the species. They have told us

this of Turkey Buzzards, Guans and birds of prey, thinking that

this would induce us to buy, and on our expressing any doubt as to

the sweetness of the song, affirmed loudly that in a few days when

the bird had settled down, we should be able to judge that they

were truthful!


The individual value of the birds would be considered low by

our Members—and after we had bought experience rather dearly,

we got to know the real market value of most kinds. Most Tanagers

and Finches can be bought for 1 franc, or less, the rarer kinds cost

2 to 5 francs, Hang-nests about 2 to 3 francs, unless very tame,

when the price is up to 10 francs, all Thrushes about 2 francs,

Guans 3 to 4 francs, Humming Birds from 1 to 2 francs, and larger

birds up to 10 francs. But the price depends on the supply and

season of the year, and as to whether one is prepared to buy a

whole cage-full rather than pick and choose the birds one really

w T ants. This latter system is by far the cheapest, but one is apt to

acquire more birds than one can do with, and thus easily become

overstocked. On the other hand, if one picked out a specially rare

bird out of a cage containing 20 others, the price for the one would

probably be higher than that of all, as the Venezuelan peon is a

very shrewd business man, and would always charge very highly

for any bird he thought we wanted badly.


Many a happy hour have I spent in the Bird Market, some¬

times finding nothing of special interest, sometimes buying a dozen



