[ r 49 ] 



tiiat the comparifon is made throughout with the common hen, 

 rather than the partridge or the pheafant*; as alfo, that, neither 

 Clytus, nor the deipnofophiji himfelf, takes notice that the bird is 

 good for the table. 



I mould therefore conceive that even amongfl: the Greeks, 

 though the bird had been feen by them, vet that it was very 

 rare, and not fuppofed to be a palatable food. It consequently 

 fared the fate of other uncommon animals, which are not con- 

 lidered as ufeful, and was foon loft.. 



It requires a confiderable time to remove our early ideas with 

 regard to animals being improper for the table. In many parts 

 of Ireland they will not eat landrails; and the Highlanders .of 

 Scotland reject both eels and pike.. 



P. S. After the preceding part of this effay was printed, I have 

 happened to meet with authorities, which, perhaps, add fome 

 confirmation to what I have before contended. 



Liebaut publifhed the firft" edition of his. Maifon RufHque in 

 1582, and hath a particular chapter upon turkies, under the 

 name of Poules d'Inde, againft the rearing of which he advifes 

 whether they were brought from the ijlands of India lately difcovered 

 by the Spaniards or Portuguefe, becaufe they are more chargeable 

 than a mule. 



It appears by this paffage, that in 1582, and perhaps fome 

 years before the actual publication of this work, there were doubts 

 whether turkies had been introduced by the Portuguefe or the 

 Spaniards, and as it mould feem, whether from the Philippines, 

 or any of the ijlands firft known to the Portuguefe in the Eaft 

 Indies, for the expreffion is India ; and as to America, the firft 

 fettlements of the fame nation were upon the continent of Bralil. 



x The pe'mtade likewife hath no fpur, and therefore differs • in that 

 very effential particular from the common cock- 



Liebaut 



