BIRDS, SMALL. 99 
are given for alouettes, réties, or en salmis, or aux fines herbes. 
“The flesh,” said former physicians, “helps the cholick, and 
is good against the falling sickness; larks breed thrice in the 
year, and are themselves much troubled with the epilepsie.” 
“The lark,” tells old Fuller, ‘‘is wholesome when dead, then 
filling the stomack with meat as formerly the ear with musick. 
If men would imitate the early rising of this bird it would conduce 
much unto their healthfulness.” The great Dr. Johnson often 
spoke roughly to Mrs. Thrale, and others. One day when she 
was lamenting the loss of a first cousin killed in America, he said, 
“Madam, it would give you very little concern if all your 
relations were spitted like these larks (which they were then 
eating) and roasted for Presto’s supper” (the lapdog, who lay 
under the table at the time). 
For broiled larks, pick, and clean a dozen larks, cut off their 
heads and legs, truss them firmly, rub them over with beaten 
egg, and strew bread-crumbs about them, with a pinch of 
salt; broil them over a clear fire, and serve them on toasted 
bread. 
Again, with respect to the Robin Redbreast, we do our best 
in this country to protect him from harm, and to regard him 
with an esteem which is well-nigh religious. But abroad the 
brave, homely little bird fails to meet with any such appreciation. 
La rouge gorge est la triste preuve de cette verité ; que le gourmand 
est par essence un étre inhumain, et cruel. Car il wa aucune 
puié de le charmant petit oiseau de passage que sa gentilesse, et sa 
jamiliarité confiante devraient mettre « Pabri de nos atteintes ; mars 
su fallait avoir compassion de tout le monde on ne mangerait 
personne; et, commiseration & part, il faut convenir que le rouge 
gorge, qui tient un rang distingué dans la classe de becs fiques, est 
un roti tres succulent. Cet aimable oiseau se manga « la broche, 
et en salmi. It is remarkable for a delicate bitter flavour. In 
Lousiana, likewise, no scruples are known about eating the 
Robin ; after he has gorged on holly-berries, and become hallt- 
tipsy on those of the China tree, which grows there around the 
dwelling-houses, he is easily shot from the “ galleries . (as the 
verandahs are called), and then he is broiled like a quail, or put 
into a savoury pie. A French Abbé writes about the Rouge 
Gorge as “ presque meprisée dans toutes les contrées qu elle habité”’ ; 
even its popular name “ La Gadille” adds to the ridicule attached 
to its sad existence. 
