Grouse

This group of birds contains the grouse proper and partridge.

Grouse are in season in August, and are expensive birds. They are found chiefly in the North of England and Scotland, amongst the heather and morasses. Young grouse are known by a short round spur.

Partridges are natives of the Old World. They are very prolific, laying from twelve to twenty eggs. Ants, larvae, and the eggs of insects are their chief food. Yellow legs and a dark bill are signs by which a young partridge may be known; a rigid vent shows when they are fresh.

The native country of the Pheasant is the mountainous districts of Asia, but it has been naturalized in England. Our pheasant is supposed to have been brought from the banks of the river Phasis in the ancient Colchis on the Eastern shore of the Black Sea, where it is still abundant. Its scientific name is Phasianus Colchicus. The young pheasant may be known by a short or round spur; in old birds it is long and pointless.

Snipes, Quails, and Ortolans may be known as young birds by the short or round spurs.

Ptarmigan are imported in great quantities from Norway, preserved in ice.

Woodcocks are in season in November. Young birds may be known by a round or short spur; when old the spur is pointed.

Wild Ducks, Widgeon, and Teal are seasonable and often cheap in winter, but Teal are not profitable even then, as they have very little on them.

Quails, Landrails, Plovers, and Larks are delicate food.

Rabbits And Hares

Rabbits are a very useful article of food, and are not dear, varying from is. 2d. to 1s. 6d. each. Ostend rabbits, the skinned animals sold at the grocers or porkbutchers, are tame Belgian rabbits kept for their skins. When these are sold the bodies are sent to England and sold at 8d. per lb.

Hares are much valued for food. Hare soup is excellent, and jugged hare is also good. Old hares suffice for both. A hare for roasting should be very young; a leveret is best. The signs of youth in a hare are these: the cleft in the lip is narrow, the body stiff, and the claws smooth and sharp. - Rabbits the same. - To ascertain if a hare is old or young, turn the claws sideways; if they crack it is young.

The Squirrel

The squirrel is a lively graceful little animal, the ornament of forest scenery. It builds its nest at the top of the loftiest trees. In it it passes great part of the day, but comes out and gambols in the evening. In the summer it stores food for the winter. Squirrels are not eaten in England, but in America they are considered good food.

After the squirrels have been split and skinned, they may be broiled, fried, or stewed; they are best broiled.

The Kangaroo

The Kangaroo is an animal peculiar to Australia. It is herbivorous and remarkable for the smallness of its fore-feet and the length of its hind legs and tail, on which it sits upright as on a tripod. The kangaroo has a skin pocket in front of it in which it carries its young, for a period of tight months after their birth.

The tail makes excellent soup, and is used by emigrants for that purpose.