188 



SIX MONTHS 



IN MEXICO. 



thus imported from the borders of the lake 

 are numbers of our waders, sandpipers, phala- 

 ropes, &c. all brought alive ; and the quan- 

 tity of ducks of various kinds is surprising ; 

 — 25,000 have been sold in a year, and at a 

 very low price. The most plentiful were the 

 shoveller (anas clypeata), and the teal, (anas 

 crecca), which are both sold at the same price, 

 and are principally eaten by the poor, though 

 the latter is equally good as in England, 

 where it is so much esteemed for the delicacy 

 of its flesh. 



Domestic water-fowl are almost unknown 

 in this part of New Spain. I never saw a 

 tame duck, and geese, not more than twice 

 during the whole time I was in the country. 

 Turkeys, fowls, pigeons, hares, and rabbits, 

 are in great plenty, and venison is occasion- 

 ally met with at table. Fish is scarce and 

 dear, the lakes producing but few species : 

 the pesca blanca, or white fish, resembling in 



