FLESH FOOD FURNISHED BY THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 169 



and noticed by Pliny. Neither has it escaped the pointed 

 pen of Martial. Dampier does not forget this delicious 

 tongue of the flamingo, observing that a dish of these 

 tongues is worthy of a place at a prince's table. 



The tongue is remarkable for its texture, magnitude, 

 and peculiar armature. The whole length of the tongue 

 is three inches ; its circumference two and a-half inches. 

 The substance is not muscular, but is chiefly composed 

 of an abundant yielding cellular substance, with fat 

 of an almost oily consistence. 



In general, the flesh of the common heron (Ardea 

 cinerea) is good or bad according to the country where 

 they are bred, and the food on which they feed. It is 

 commonly said that the flesh of a young heron is food 

 for a king, but for what reason it is hard to say, for it 

 is usually fishy and of a disagreeable flavour. Leibaut 

 calls the heron a royal viand. It was formerly in con- 

 siderable estimation as an article of food, and is still 

 eaten in some countries. 



Soyer, in his " Panthropheon," tells us, " Some modern 

 nations — the French among others — formerly ate the 

 heron, crane, crow, stork, swan, cormorant and bittern ; 

 the first three especially were highly esteemed, and Tail- 

 levant, cook of Charles VII., teaches us how to prepare 

 these meagre, tough birds. Belon [Hist, des Oiseaux) 

 says that in spite of its revolting taste when unaccus- 

 tomed to it, the bittern is, however, among the delicious 

 treats of the French. This writer also asserts that a 

 falcon or a vulture, either roasted or boiled, is excellent 

 eating, and that if one of these birds happened to kill 

 itself in flying after the game, the falconer instantly 

 cooked it. 



JDucks and Geese. — We come now to treat of some of the 

 most useful of the class of birds in a food point of view, 

 the ducks and the geese. The duck, being such a good 

 swimmer, was sacrificed by the ancients in compliment 

 to Neptune. Ducks were always served at the tables 

 of the rich Greeks, but the more wealthy Romans only 

 oflfered to their guests the breast and head, returning 



