440 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



teacli the Sportsman to ascertain the comparative weight of 

 Birds by poising, or rather weighing, them on the first joint of 

 his index finger. 



Young Birds are much better than old ones; their skin is far 

 more soft, and tears easily; their bills pliable; their legs and 

 feet smooth, and of a light color; their plumage is also lighter; 

 the Hen Bird is generally preferable to the Cock Bird, being 

 more juicy and tender. 



"When recently killed, the eyes are full and natural ; the inside 

 of the mouth, tongue, and throat looks fresh ; the skin white, 

 and the whole body smells sweet. 



If, on the contrary, the Birds be old, they will be more tough 

 and far less palatable; their bills hard, horny, and worn off; 

 their legs rough and scaly ; their feet ragged, and their nails 

 short and blunt. If killed some days, the eyes will be sunk, 

 their fulness gone; the inside of the bill, the tongue, and the 

 throat slimy and fetid; the vent soft and of a dark-bluish color; 

 the legs and feet dry and husky to the touch. 



So far as our experience teaches us, no kind of Game-Bird 

 improves by keeping over two or three days, although in cold 

 weather they may not be injured by it. Old and tough Grouse 

 (Pheasants) may certainly become more tender by age, and per- 

 haps may eat more palatably when in a state of half decompo- 

 sition than when perfectly fresh ; but this argues nothing, as 

 the flesh was not good in the first place, and any change in its 

 structure might, therefore, be for the better. 



We do not, however, say that Game should be eaten as soon 

 after being killed as possible, for that would be wrong, except 

 in the case of some Water-Fowl ; however, we are satisfied that 

 Snipe, Woodcock, Plover, Eail, and Reed Birds can be eaten 

 with as much relish on the day that they are shot as at any 

 subsequent period, and perhaps never are so good on the third 

 day as they are on the first ; at least, such is our notion on the 

 subject, and perhaps we will be borne out in this opinion by 

 some of our friends. We have no fancy for putting into our 

 stomach half-decomposed substances of any kind; much less 

 have we so distorted, so depraved a taste as to desire to partake 

 of tainted, par-rotten game, or to chew up the half-digested 



