652 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
And the old man sang him an old, old song, 
For he sang the song ‘ Too late! too late !’ 
He sang the song ‘ Too late!’ 
While we send for the napkin the soup grows cold, 
While the bonnet is trimming the face grows old, 
When we’ve matched the buttons the pattern is sold, 
And everything comes too late, too late, 
And everything comes too late.” 
Ox-tail Soup, being made from what is really one of the most 
nutritive parts of the animal, is of wide reputation as the 
principal thick Soup for substantial repasts. To cook the tail 
it should be divided at the joints, and stewed with pieces of 
carrot, or other vegetable; some of the tail should be served 
in the Soup. At the beginning of last century the tail of an 
ox (which is now dearer than rump steak) cost only from sixpence 
to sevenpence ; whereas an ox-tail of first quality will fetch at 
the present time half-a-crown, its amount of flesh being about 
a pound and a half. 
SPARROW. 
Tue House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) differs from the Hedge 
Sparrow (Accentor modularis), the former being a grain-eater, 
but the latter an insect-eater. The Cock Sparrow (Passer) is 
notoriously a lascivious bird ; it ‘ loosens the belly by its broth ; 
being much eaten it excites venery ; the youngest are best.” 
“This little cock sparrow shall make me a stew, 
And his giblets shall make me a little pie too.” 
Sparrow pudding is an appetizing dish which strengthens the 
sexual organs. In early English days Sparrows were eaten 
commonly ; they make an excellent pot-pie, with a flavour 
superior to that of Quails, or they may be substituted for Larks 
in a kidney pudding. The food of House Sparrows is 75 per 
cent of corn, one kind and another. The late Lord Lilford, 
a distinguished naturalist, has said: ‘I consider that every 
bird-catcher who confines his operations strictly to the taking 
of Sparrows is a benefactor, and should be subsidized by the 
parish authorities.” His Lordship has further advised the 
shooting of Sparrows as they fly to, and from, the cornfields, 
as excellent practice for partridge shooting, each bird killed 
representing at least a bushel of corn saved. An old saying 
