A History of Agriculture in India v2.c65.s23: Birds

v2.c65.s23.1

Paes also describes the birds and poultry. ‘In this country there are many partridges, but they are not of the same sort or quality as ours; they are like the estarnas of Italy. There are three sorts of these: one class has only a small spur such as those of Portugal have; another class has on each foot two very sharp spurs, almost as long and thick as one’s finger; the other class is painted, and of these you will find the markets full; as also of quails. and hares, and all kinds of wild fowl, and other birds which live in the lakes and which look like geese. All these birds and game animals they sell alive, and they are very cheap, for they give six or eight partridges for a vintem, and of hares they give two and sometimes one. Of other birds they give so many that you would hardly pay any attention to the little ones they give you, such as doves and pigeons, and the common birds of the country. The doves are of two kinds; some are like those in Portugal, others are as large as thrushes; of the doves they give twelve or fourteen for a favao.