A History of Agriculture in India v2.c69.s4: Birds
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c69.s4
- Language
- English
Birds
v2.c69.s4.1
Babur describes the following birds in *Babur-nama*: Peacock, parrot, *sharak*, *lujeh*, *durraj* (or black partridge), *pulpeikar*, *murgh-e-sahra* (or fowl of the wild), *chelsi*, *sham*, *budineh* or quail, *kharchal* (or bustard), *charz* (or floriken), *baghri-kara* (or rock-pigeon), water-fowl, *dig* (or adjutant), *sāras*, minkisa, *yak ding*, *buzek* (or curlew), *gheret-pai*, *shahmurgh*, *zumej*, starling, *ala-kurgheh* (or magpie), crowpheasant, *chamgidri* (or flying fox), *aakeh*, *karcheh*, or *koel*. The flying fox is a mammal and not a bird, and it was included by Babur among birds by mistake.
v2.c69.s4.2
'The peacock (Ar. *ṭaus*) is one. It is a beautifully coloured and splendid animal (Fig. 28). Its form is not equal to its colouring and beauty. Its body may be as large as the crane's but it is not so tall. On the head of both cock and hen are 20 to 30 feathers rising some 2 or 3 inches (5 to 7.6) cm high. The hen has neither colour nor beauty. The head of the cock has an iridescent collar; its neck is of a beautiful blue; below the neck, its back is painted in yellow, parrot-green, blue and violet colours. The flowers on its back are much the smaller; below the back as far as the tail-tips are (larger) flowers painted in the same colours. The tail of some peacocks grows to the length of a man's extended arms. It has a small tail under its flowered feathers, like the tail of other birds; this ordinary tail and its primaries are red. It is found in Bajaur and Sawad and below them; it is not in Kunur and Lamghanat or any place above them. Its flight is feebler than the pheasant's; it cannot do more than make one or two short flights. On account of its feeble flight, it frequents the hills or jungles, which is curious, since jackals abound in the jungles it frequents. What damage might these jackals not do to birds that trail from jungle to jungle, tails as long as man's stretch! Hindustanis call the peacock *mor*. Its flesh is lawful food, according to the doctrine of Imām Abū Hanīfa; it is like that of the partridge and not unsavoury, but is eaten with instinctive aversion, in the way camel-flesh is.
v2.c69.s4.3
'The parrot is another. This also is in Bajaur and countries lower down. It comes into Ningnahar and Lamghanat in the heats when mulberries ripen; it is not there at other times. It is of many, many kinds. One sort is that which people carry into those (Tramontana) countries. They make it speak words... Another sort is smaller; this also they make FIG. 29. A hunter netting birds. In the foreground are sarus cranes, pelicans and wild ducks. To the left a pair of hoopoes. In the net a falcon. From the *Babur-nama*. Mughal, 1597.
v2.c69.s4.4
FIG. 26. Babur hunting rhinos near Peshawar. From the Babur-nama. Mughal, early 17th century A.D. (Courtesy: British Museum, London)
v2.c69.s4.5
FIG. 27. Babur hunting. From the Babur-nama. Mughal, early 17th century A.D. (Courtesy: British Museum, London)
v2.c69.s4.6
و بالا عجب جست و خیزان می دود از طیور یکی طاووس است
v2.c69.s4.7
برزک و پر زیب جانوری است اندام او در خور زک و زیب اوست در جثه برابر کلنگ بوده باشد اما برابر کلنگ بلند نیست در سر زامه در سر ماده او پست سی پر می باشد و سه انگشت بلندی آن پر ها باشد در ماده او زیب و رنگی نیست سر را و سویی درخشنده است گردن او رنگی کبود است از گردن پایان تر پشت او از زرد و توکلی و کبود و بنفش رنگ نقش
v2.c69.s4.8
FIG. 28. Squirrels playing on a tree. Below a peacock and a hen, and sarus cranes. From the Babur-nama, Mughal, 1597. (Courtesy: National Museum, New Delhi)
v2.c69.s4.10
speak words. They call it the jungle-parrot. It is numerous in Bajaur, Sawad and that neighbourhood, so much so that 5 or 6,000 fly in one flock. Between it and the one first-named the difference is in bulk; in colouring they are just one and the same. Another sort is still smaller than the jungle-parrot. Its head is quite red, the top of its wings (i.e. the primaries) is red also; the tip of its tail for two hands'-thickness is lustrous. The head of some parrots of this kind is iridescent. It does not become a talker. People call it the Kashmir parrot. Another sort is rather smaller than the jungle-parrot; its beak is black; round its neck is a wide black collar; its primaries are red. It is an excellent learner of words. We used to think that whatever a parrot or a sharak might say of words people had taught it, it could not speak of any matter out of its own head. At this juncture one of my immediate servants Abū-l-qāsim Jalāīr, reported a singular thing to me. A parrot of this sort whose cage must have been covered up, said, 'Uncover my face; I am stifling.' And another time when palkī bearers sat down to take breath, this parrot, presumably on hearing wayfarers pass by, said, "Men are going past, are you not going on?" Let credit rest with the narrator, but, never-the-less, so long as a person has not heard with his own ears, he may not believe!—Another kind is of a beautiful full red; it has other colours also, but, as nothing is distinctly remembered about them, no description is made. It is a very beautiful bird, both in colour and form. People are understood to make this also speak words. Its defect is a most unpleasant, sharp voice, like the drawing of broken china on a copper plate.
v2.c69.s4.11
The sharak is another. It is numerous in the Lamghanat and abounds lower down, all over Hindustan. Like the parrot, it is of many kinds.—The kind that is numerous in the Lamghanat has a black head; its primaries (qanāt) are spotted, its body rather larger and thicker than that of the chughūr-chūq (Sturnus vulgaris indicus; syn. S. humii). People teach it to speak words.—Another kind they call pindawalī, they bring it from Bengal; it is black all over and of much greater bulk than the sharak (here, house-mina). Its bill and foot are yellow and on each ear are yellow wattles which hang down and have a bad appearance. It learns to speak well and clearly.—Another kind of sharak is slenderer than the last and is red round the eyes. It does not learn to speak. People call it the wood-sharak. Again, at the time when (934 AH.) I had made a bridge over Gang, crossed it, and put my adversaries to flight, a kind of sharak was seen, in the neighbourhood of Laknau and Oude for the first time, which had a white breast, piebald head, and black back. This kind does not learn to speak.
v2.c69.s4.12
The luja is another. This bird they call (Ar.) bu-qalamūn (chameleon) because, between head and tail, it has five or six changing colours, resplendent like a pigeon's throat. It is about as large as the kabg-i-dari and seems to be the kabg-i-dari (monal) of Hindustan. As the kabg-i-dari moves on the heads of mountains, so does this. It is in the Nijr-aū mountains of the countries of Kabul and in the mountains lower down, but it is not found higher up. People tell this wonderful thing about it:—When the birds, at the onset of winter, descend to the hill-skirts, if they come over a vineyard, they can fly no further and are taken. God knows the truth! The flesh of this bird is very savoury.
v2.c69.s4.13
'The partridge (dūrraj) is another. This is not peculiar to Hindustan but is also in the Garm-sir countries; however, some kinds are only in Hindustan; particulars of them are given here. The dūrraj (Francolinus francolinus) may be of the same bulk as the kiklik; the cock's back is the colour of the hen-pheasant; its throat and breast are black, with quite white spots. A red line comes down on both sides of both eyes. It is named from its cry which is something like Shir daram shakrak. It pronounces shir short; daram shakrak it says distinctly. Astarabad partridges are said to cry Bat mini tutilar (Quick! they have caught me). The partridge of Arabia and those parts is understood to cry, Bi'l shakar tadawin al ni'am (with sugar pleasure endures)! The hen-bird has the colour of the young pheasant. These birds are found below Nijr-aū.—Another kind is called kanjal. Its bulk may be that of the one already described. Its voice is very like that of the kiklik but much shriller. There is little difference in colour between the cock and hen. It is found in Parashawar, Hashnagar and countries lower down, but not higher up.
v2.c69.s4.14
'The p(h)ul-paikar (Tragopan melanocephalus) is another. Its size may be that of the kabgi-dari; its shape is that of the house-cock, its colour that of the hen. 'From forehead (tumagh) to throat it is of a beautiful colour, quite red. It is in the Hindustan mountains.
v2.c69.s4.15
'The wild-fowl (Gallus gallus; syn. G. ferrugineus) is another. It flies like a pheasant, and is not of all colours as house-fowl are. It is in the mountains of Bajaur and lower down, but not higher up.
v2.c69.s4.16
'The chilsī (or jilsi) is another. In bulk it equals the p(h)ul-paikar but the latter has the finer colouring. It is in the mountains of Bajaur.
v2.c69.s4.17
'The sham is another. It is about as large as a house-fowl; its colour is unique. It also is in the mountains of Bajaur.
v2.c69.s4.18
'The quail (Coturnix coturnix) is another. It is not peculiar to Hindustan but four or five kinds are so.—One is that which goes to our countries (Tramontana), larger and more spreading than the (Hindustan) quail.—Another kind is smaller than the one first named. Its primaries and tail are reddish. It flies in flocks like the chir [Catreus (Phasianus) wallichii].—Another kind is smaller than that goes to our countries and is darker on throat and breast.—Another kind goes in small numbers to Kabul; it is very small, perhaps a little larger than the yellow wag-tail; they call it quratu in Kabul.
v2.c69.s4.19
'The Indian bustard is another. It is about as large as the great bustard (*Otis tarda*). Its flesh is delicious; of some birds the leg is good; of others, the wing; and of the bustard all the meat is delicious and excellent.
v2.c69.s4.20
'The florican (*?Sypheotides indica*; *?Eupodotis bengalensis*) is another. It is rather less than the *tughdīrī*; the cock's back is like the *tughdīrī*'s, and its breast is black. The hen is of one colour.
v2.c69.s4.21
'The Hindustan sand-grouse (*Pterocles exustus*) is another. It is smaller and slenderer than the *bāghrī-qara* (*Pterocles arenarius*) of those countries (Tramontana). Also its cry is sharper.
v2.c69.s4.22
'Of the birds that frequent water and the banks of rivers, one is the ding (*Leptoptilus dubius*), of great bulk, each wing measuring a *qulach* (fathom). It has no plumage on head or neck; a thing like a bag hangs from its neck; its back is black; its breast is white. It goes sometimes to Kabul; one year people brought one they had caught. It became very tame; if meat were thrown to it, it never failed to catch it in its bill. Once it swallowed a six-nailed shoe, another time a whole fowl, wings and feathers, all right down.
v2.c69.s4.23
'The sāras (*Grus antigone*) is another (Fig. 29). It may be smaller than the ding but its neck is longer. Its head is quite red. People keep this bird at their houses; it becomes very tame.
v2.c69.s4.24
'The manek (*?Ciconia leucocephala*) is another. In stature it approaches the sāras, but its bulk is less. It resembles the lag-lag (*Ciconia ciconia ciconia*; syn. *C. alba*) but is much larger; its bill is larger and is black. [These are the field characteristics that differentiate the eastern white stork, *Ciconia ciconia boyciana*, from the white stork, *Ciconia ciconia*.] Its head is iridescent, its neck white, its wings partly-coloured; the tips and border-feathers and under parts of the wings are white, their middle black.
v2.c69.s4.25
'Another stork (lag-lag) has a white neck and all other parts black. [The reference is probably to the white-necked stork, *Ciconia episcopus episcopus*.] It goes to those countries (Tramontana). It is rather smaller than the lag-lag [*Ciconia ciconia*; syn. *C. alba*).
v2.c69.s4.26
'Another bird resembles the grey heron and the lag-lag; but its bill is longer than the heron's and its body smaller than the white stork's.
v2.c69.s4.27
'Another is the large buzak (black ibis, *Pseudibis papillosa papillosa*. In bulk it may equal the buzzard. The back of its wings is white. It has a loud cry.
v2.c69.s4.28
'The white buzak [*Threskionnis (ibis) melanocephala*] is another. Its head and bill are black. It is much larger than the one that goes to those countries, but smaller than the Hindustan buzak.
v2.c69.s4.29
'The gharm-paī (*Anas poecilorhyncha poecilorhyncha*; spotted billed duck) is another It is larger than the *sūna burchīn* (mallard). The drake and duck are of one colour. It is in Hashnagar at all seasons; sometimes it goes into the Lamghanat. Its flesh is very savoury.
v2.c69.s4.30
'The *shah-murgh* (*Sarcidiornis melanonotus melanonotus*, comb duck or *nukta*) is another. It may be a little smaller than a goose. It has a swelling on its bill; its back is black; its flesh is excellent eating.
v2.c69.s4.31
'The *zummaj* is another. It is about as large as the *burgut* (*Aquila chrysaetos daphanea*, the golden eagle).
v2.c69.s4.32
'The (T.) *ala-qargha* of Hindustan is another. This is slenderer and smaller than the *ālā-qārgha* of those countries (*Tramontana*). Its neck is partly white.
v2.c69.s4.33
'Another Hindustan bird resembles the crow (*Corvus splendens splendens*) and the magpie. In Lamghanat people call it the jungle-bird (*Centropus sinensis sinensis*; crow-pheasant). Its head and breast are black; its wings and tail reddish; its eye quite red. Having a feeble flight, it does not come out of the jungle, whence its name.
v2.c69.s4.34
'The great bat is another. People call it (Hindi) *chumgādur*. It is about as large as the owl, and has a head like a puppy's. When it is thinking of lodging for the night on a tree, it takes hold of a branch, turns head-downwards, and so remains. It has much singularity.
v2.c69.s4.35
'The magpie is another. People call it *matā* (*Dendrocitta vagabunda*, the Indian tree-pie). It may be somewhat less than the '*aqqa*, which moreover is pied black and white, while the *matā* is pied brown and black.
v2.c69.s4.36
'Another is a small bird, perhaps of the size of the (T.) *sandulach*. It is of a beautiful red with a little black on its wings.
v2.c69.s4.37
'The *karcha* is another; it is after the fashion of a swallow, but much larger and quite black.
v2.c69.s4.38
'The *kuil* (*Eudynamys scolopacea*, the koel) is another. It may be as large as the crow but is much slenderer. It has a kind of song and is understood to be the bulbul of Hindustan. Its honour with Hindustanies is as great as is the bulbul's. It always stays in closely-wooded gardens.
v2.c69.s4.39
'Another bird is after the fashion of the (Ar.) *shiqarrak* [*Kitta (Cissa) chinensis*, the green-magpie]. It clings to trees, is perhaps as large as the green-magpie, and is parrot-green [*? Picus xanthopygaes; syn. Gecinus striolatus*; the little green-woodpecker].'²
v2.c69.s4.40
² *Babur-nama*, pp. 493-501