190 GAME. 



The Hare of America is common in many parts of the 

 Union ; in summer its fur is brown and ash-colored, in winter 

 it is white, and much longer than in summer. It breeds sev- 

 eral times during the year, and in the Southern States during 

 the winter months, and has sometimes a litter of six. It is 

 not so highly esteemed here as in the old country. It is 

 taken in the same manner as the gray rabbit, by springes, 

 traps, nets, and also by the gun. If hares and rabbits are 

 young, the ears are easily slit, and the jaw-bone easily 

 broken. Excepting when used for soup, hares and rabbits 

 are not opened, weather allowing, for several days. After 

 hanging for some days, it is paunched and skinned, the heart 

 and liver removed and scalded. They should be well bled 

 and washed through several waters, trussed, and if young 

 they may be roasted, but not without a rich stuffing, made 

 of grated bread-crumbs, beef-suet, a small chopped onion, the 

 liver, if perfectly good, a little grated lemon-peel, the whole 

 moistened with egg and a table-spoonful of claret. Put this 

 stuffing into the belly, and sew it up. Baste with butter. 

 Make the gravy with the drippings of the pan, cream, and 

 the yolk of a beaten egg, and a very little flour. An hour 

 and a half or two hours will roast a hare or rabbit, which 

 should be cooked gradually. When old they are braised or 

 stewed slowly with herbs, wine, water, chopped onion, thick- 

 ened with butter and flour. 



Woodcock is the favorite bird of gourmands, if one judges 

 by their market value, as they frequently bring one dollar 

 per brace. They are to be had from the 1st of July to the 

 1st of December. The practice of not drawing these birds 

 is more honored in the breach than the observance. 



Partridges and Pheasants are marketable from September 

 to the 5th of January, when their after sale is illegal, on ac- 

 count of the food of these birds consisting, while the snow is 

 on the ground, of wild laurel-berries, which renders their 

 flesh poisonous. 



