CAPONIZING. 235 



with the blood, and the wing being- put down on it, the animal 

 walks off as if nothing had happened. 



The French mode is more simple. In France, young cocks, 

 three months old, are made choice of for the operation, which 

 must, if possible, be performed before July, as it has been 

 remarked that capons made later than this seldom prove fine. 

 The incision is made as already explained, the finger inserted," 

 the stone removed with a dexterous twist of the finger, only 

 acquired by experience, the wound sewed up and rubbed with 

 oil, and, finally, the comb is cut off. 



It is usual, among the French, after the operation, to feed 

 them for three or four days with bread soaked in wine, coop- 

 ing them up in a place where the temperature is not too high ; 

 for, when the weather proves to be very hot, the wound is apt 

 to mortify and cause death." 



Mr. Richardson, who seems to have devoted considerable 

 attention to the subject, gives the following directions, in his 

 recent popular work : 



" This process has been made a subject of much unneces- 

 sary mystery ; and, I regret to add, of much unnecessary cru- 

 elty. In point of fact, the process of caponizing is an 

 extremely simple affair, and one which the country henwives 

 in France perform with facility and certainty, (assuredly there 

 are some 'things' which 'they manage better in France.') 

 The practice of the French country-women is to select the 

 close of the spring, or the beginning of autumn, as well as 

 fine weather, for the performance of their work. The parts 

 necessary to be removed being fixed in the abdomen, and 

 attached to the spine at the region of the loins, it is absolutely 

 necessary to ope?i the abdominal cavity for the purpose of their 

 extraction. The bird should be healthy, fasting, and about 

 three months old. He is then to be secured by an assistant, 

 upon his back, his belly upwards, and his head down, that the 



