TO KEEP BIRDS. 239 



mediately snap their legs, and draw out the sinews, 

 by means of pulling off the feet, instead of leaving 

 them to torment him, like so many strings, when he 

 would be wishing to enjoy his repast. This remedy 

 of making the leg tender removes the objection to 

 old birds, provided the weather will admit of their 

 being sufficiently kept; and indeed they are then 

 often preferable, from having a higher flavour. 



Jf birds are overkept their legs will be dry, their 

 eyes much sunk, and the vent will become soft and 

 somewhat discoloured. The first place to ascertain 

 if they are beginning to be high is the inside of 

 their bills, where it is not amiss to put some heather 

 straw, or spice, if you want them to keep for any 

 length of time. Birds that have fallen in the water, 

 or have not had time to get cold, should never be 

 packed like others, but sent openly, and dressed as 

 soon as possible. 



Sportsmen are often heartily abused by their ac- 

 quaintance (I cannot yet bring myself to hackney the 

 word friends quite so fluently as I ought to do) for 

 sending them " tough and good-for-nothing game," 

 while all the blame should, in many instances, rest 

 with themselves, or their pudding-headed cook, who, 

 may be, dresses an old pheasant, or hare, the very 

 day after it was killed, or perhaps, while engrossed 

 in a story or argument, leaves it to roast away, till 

 there remains neither juice nor flavour. 



All game, &c. should be kept till properly tender ; 



