284 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



the woodcock in life and in death. Good as he is on toast, 

 he is, in my opinion, surpassed in quahty and flavour by 

 many and many a bird of lesser reputation — the common 

 waterhen and water-rail both being finer table birds, I 

 think, to say nothing of snipe, golden plover, and many 

 another bird. But the world is full of over-estimated birds 

 as well as false reputations ; but the truth is great — it will 

 prevail. 



