100 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
‘* Who killed Cock Robin ? ” “‘ Qui a tué Rouge-Gorge?”’ 
‘*T,” said the Sparrow, ‘ with my | ** Moi, dit le Moineau, ‘“ayee mon 
bow and arrow, arc, et ma fléche, 
I killed Cock Robin.” | J’ai tué Rouge- -Gorge.” 
‘* Who saw him die? ” | ** Qui l’a vu mourir?”’ 
‘‘T,” said the Fly, ‘‘ with my little | ‘‘ Moi,” dit la Mouche, ‘‘ avec mon 
eye, petit ceil, 
I saw him die.” Je lai yu moutrir.” 
“ Who caught his blood?” | ** Qui @ recueilli son sang ?” 
‘‘T,” said the Fish, ‘‘ with my little ‘‘ Moi,” dit le Poisson, avec mon 
dish, | petit plat, 
I caught his blood.” | J’ai recueilli son sang.’’ 
It is a bird most easily snared, and has been eaten by scores, 
though a noted Englishman declared in Italy that he would as 
soon devour a baby as a Robin. Being a brave, fearless, and 
highly sociable little creature, it may possibly confer this same 
estimable character when eaten habitually, even though under 
protest. 
The Snipe (Scolopax gallinago), and the Woodcock (Scolopaxr 
rustica), live chiefly by suction, and therefore contain within 
themselves, when killed, nothing corruptible ; so that they may 
be eaten, trail and all, their flavour being delicate, whilst rich. 
(See ‘‘Game.”) An old French quatrain runs thus :— 
“Le becasseau est de fort bon manger, 
Duquel la chair resueille l’appetet : 
Il est oyseau passager, et petit, 
Et par sou goust fait des vins bien juger.” 
The Starling is “one of the worst birds to be eaten that is, 
for she will eat bitter; but, only keep them alive, one of the 
best birds that is to talk, or whistle.’ There are the Field 
Starling, and the House Starling (which breeds in churches, and 
houses). 
The Thrush (Turdus musicus) has a flesh excellent for the 
invalid. Horace, the Latin Poet, formerly declared ‘“ Ni melius 
turdo”’ ; and, later on, in the London Pharmacopeaia, it is said : 
** The Thrush is of good nourishment, hotter in its flesh than the 
Blackbird, and preferred by many. Roasted with myrtle 
berries it helps the dysentery, and other fluxes of the belly.” 
Thrushes are best for eating towards the end of November, 
because their meat is then aromatic through the juniper berries 
on which these birds have been feeding. Moreover, the Missel 
Thrush affords anti-epileptic food, because of living chiefly on 
mistletoe berries, which are of singular virtue against the falling 
