234 The Boofc of the Goat, 



it for venison. It is of course better that castration should 

 be done while the animal is young, but it is not uncommon 

 in some countries, and especially in Algeria, to perform 

 this operation after the goat has had three or four years' 

 service, and then to eat him. 



The flesh of the Angora is considered far superior to 

 that of Other breeds, and quite equal to mutton. Some 

 experiments were made by M. Chevet at the instance of 

 the Zoological Society of Paris some years ago which are 

 well worth recording here. The subject of the trial was 

 a male Angora which had been used for stock-getting for 

 two years, and was emasculated at the age of three and a 

 half, so that circumstances were somewhat against a 

 favourable verdict, and were not improved by the fact 

 that the goat had been imperfectly fattened. The meat, 

 however, presented a very good appearance in its raw 

 state, and when prepared in various ways gave perfect 

 satisfaction, being considered quite equal to mutton, 

 though not, of course, of the first quality. 



" This meat," writes M. Che vet, " is distinguished by 

 a decidedly sweet taste, especially noticeable in the 

 kidneys, which were grilled, and in the broth made from 

 the neck and breast. The leg was cooked like a quarter 

 of venison that is to say, larded and pickled for three 

 days and then roasted an hour and three-quarters before 

 a moderate fire. The saddle was braised, and though the 

 cooking only took two and a half hours the meat was over- 

 done. The shoulder served as cold roti was prepared 

 en daube farcie a la gelee : this jelly in particular left 

 nothing to be desired for fineness of flavour, although 

 assisted by no seasoning whatever. Every part of the 

 animal was tried without special preparation, and fourteen 

 of my colleagues were convinced with me that the flesh 

 of the Angora is perfectly good eating, and under favour- 

 able conditions should be equal to the finest mutton." 



