FATTENING. 99 



The little black East Indian duck is a most 

 delicious bird, when fed upon barley meal and 

 celery, indeed almost equal to the famed Canvas- 

 back of America; this mode of treatment first 

 suggested itself to me from a knowledge of the 

 habits and food of that bird, which latter con- 

 sists of the sea-celery (yalisneria), found in the 

 mouth of the Delaware ; they obtain it by diving 

 to a great depth, beyond the powers of any other 

 species of duck. 



I have always found that fowls can be induced 

 to feed as you wish them. Science and observa- 

 tion should guide that; Nature, their habits. 



I conclude this short chapter with some 

 remarks kindly afforded me by Mr Muirhead, 

 Queen Street, Edinburgh, Poulterer to Her Ma- 

 jesty in Scotland : — 



"Capons are of very ancient origin, and are 

 mentioned by authors of the middle ages as hav- 

 ing been in use among the Greeks and Komans, 

 and only seen among nations in the highest state 

 of civilization. 



" The flesh of these birds is very delicate, they 

 attain great weights, and command high prices 



