250 E. F. Tong—Some Notes on Bird Collecting in Southern China


Upon arrival I immediately noted the beauty of the bird, and knew

that here was a rare find. I had never seen such a bird before, and could

not place its identification.


After the customary introduction, I said to the owner, “ A very

common bird, just a variation in colour of the lowly Pekin Kobin.”


Kaising his voice excitedly, the man responded, “ This bird is a very

rare one. I don’t know its name, but I paid an enormous price for it. It

is the only one here among all the surrounding villages. Should you take

this bird for a walk around here, everyone will recognize it as mine.”


Evidently he must have taken the bird out regularly for walks about

the streets, as is the usual custom among Chinese bird fanciers. Every

day in the cities, from dawn to dark, one invariably meets Chinese men

and boys, some in rags and others in silk, taking their birds out for a

walk. This is done, in my opinion, for three reasons : to familiarize

the bird with humans, to exhibit his beautiful specimen, and because

the owner needs exercise himself (least probable).


He continued, “ I wouldn’t part with him for all the jades of Canton,

only that I am not very well, and he eats too many grasshoppers.”

At this juncture he caught a grasshopper from a small bamboo cage

filled with the jumping creatures and offered it to the bird, which

accepted same eagerly. He went on, “ As a great favour, however, I

shall let you have it for $50.00, Hong Kong currency, which is exactly

what I paid for it.”


My collector and I both kept from laughing, and with a serious

expression I voiced my disinterestedness in paying that price. After

the usual bargaining conversation I offered him my final price, and then

departed without the bird. A few hours later I sent the collector over,

and he brought the bird back to me at the figure recommended to me

by my collector, which was my “ last ” price.



