328 Kings of tbe 1Rofc, IRifle, an& (Bun 



One more extract I must allow myself, if only for the 

 pleasure of quoting Christopher North's comments upon 

 it for Kit's critique on "Salmonia" was one of the 

 raciest things he ever wrote. The scene is laid at a 

 Highland inn. Enter 



" The Innkeeper. Gentlemen, dinner is ready. 



THE DINNER. 



Hal. Now take your places. What think you of our 

 fish? 



Phys. I never ate better ; but I want the Harvey or 

 Reading sauce. 



Hal. Pray let me entreat you to use no other sauce 

 than the water in which he was boiled. I assure you 

 this is the true Epicurean way of eating fresh salmon : 

 and for the trout, use only a little vinegar and mustard 

 a sauce d la Tartare> without the onions. 



Poiet. Well, nothing can be better ; and I do not 

 think fresh net-caught fish can be superior to these. 



Hal. And these snipes are excellent. Either my 

 journey has given me an appetite, or I think they are 

 the best I ever tasted. 



Orn. They are good; but I have tasted better. 



Hal. Where? 



Orn. On the Continent ; where the common snipe, 

 that rests during its migration from the north to the 

 south in the marshes of Italy and Carniola, and the 

 double, or solitary snipe, become so fat as to resemble 

 that bird which was formerly fattened in Lincolnshire, 

 the ruff ; and they have, I think, a better flavour from 

 being fed on their natural food. 



