236 The fcoofc of the Goat. 



have lived in Malta and the East Indies can testify to the 

 appreciation of this meat in those countries. With the 

 Hebrews and Greeks it ranked amongst their most dainty- 

 dishes, and everyone knows how frequently it is spoken 

 of in the Old Testament. 



To be enjoyed in perfection a kid should be killed 

 before it has been weaned, or, more properly, before it has 

 commenced grazing; in other words, when about three 

 weeks or a month old. The flesh is then very white and 

 delicate, and when eaten cold with -ham would never be 

 distinguished from chicken. At this age the meat can 

 hardly be said to resemble lamb, not being so close in the 

 grain as the latter (lambs are never, of course, killed at 

 this early period of their lives). At three or four months 

 old the flesh of a kid might be taken, according to the 

 method of dressing, either for lamb or veal, great though 

 the difference is between these meats. A roast leg, for 

 instance, served with mint -sauce, might very readily be 

 mistaken for the former, whilst the loin with rashers of 

 bacon tied round and stuffed as for roast veal would lead 

 most people to suppose they were partaking of the flesh 

 of the calf. I have several times practised these little 

 deceptions at my own table on persons who I knew would 

 be prejudiced against the dishes if presented to them 

 without this disguise, and always with complete success. 

 Most people prefer the " veal " imitation to the " lamb," 

 as the meat, not being very full-flavoured and somewhat 

 devoid of fat, is more tasty with the addition of stuffing 

 and with the slices of fat bacon cooked with it. In any 

 case it should be well basted. The remains of the joint 

 served as a fricassee the next day make a most delicious 

 dish. 



A PUBLIC KID DINNER. In the year 1880, with the 

 view of bringing the flesh of the kid into more general 

 use, and, at the same time, of practically illustrating the 



