Chapter XIX. 



The Flesh of the Goat. 



ALTHOUGH the flesh of goats generally and especially 

 that of the Angora is largely consumed and pre- 

 ferred to mutton in countries where these animals 

 abound, I should never recommend keeping ordinary 

 kinds for this purpose; for so long as we have 

 beef and mutton in plenty few people will care to eat 

 goat, besides which our present breeds are too slow- 

 growing to be adapted for the purpose. There is, how- 

 ever, more prejudice against this meat than is really 

 warranted, for many people might eat of a goat 

 eighteen months or two years old and never realise that 

 they were not partaking of mountain mutton. I qualify 

 the remark in this way because, as a matter of fact, 

 I am told a great many carcases of goats find their way 

 into the metropolitan meat markets, to be there sold as 

 " house lamb," though fetching of course an inferior price 

 to the genuine article. Having been myself very nearly 

 victimised in this way, I can speak from experience. The 

 circumstances of the case being somewhat amusing, besides 

 serving as a caution, I may as well relate them here. It 

 happened at a time of year when lamb fetches a high 

 price, and when the temptation to offer a spurious article 

 is therefore very great. 



