has invariably received an honourable verdict in its favour, as possessing more flavour, juice, and taste. Try yourself; forget your ancient prejudices. "What beautiful feet! what beautiful plumage!" will go for nothing in the judgment you will pronounce. These things are not eaten. Partridges are said not to be easily digested. It has also other inconveniences. You shall see :— "Nimirum crudam si ad læta cubilia portas Certain gourmands pretend that they are enabled to distinguish from taste the thigh on which the partridge sleeps, and say it eats better and that it has more flavour. I have often seriously endeavoured to make this trial, but I have never been enabled to discover any difference. I, therefore, conclude there is some fault in my digestive organs, which have not all the sensitiveness they ought to have. It is a most delicious dish a well-roasted partridge; but it is necessary that the nice leaf which well incloses his plump body should not permit the escape of any of its juicy flavour. I am well aware that Doctor Pedro Recio de Agguero did not permit Sancho Panza to eat partridge, founding his orders on the aphorism of Hippocrates,— "Omnis saturatio mala, perdix autem pessima;" yet as the doctor refused other delicacies at the same time, such as tarts and sweets, we shall pay little attention to his authority, and less to that of Hippocrates. We shall eat many partridges, and wash them down with Burgundy, leaving the digestion to take care of itself. To distinguish a gourmand it is commonly said that he does not like partridges without oranges. This proverb alone will prove that oranges are necessary to be eaten with partridges, if the experience of every day had not proved this great truth beyond all contradiction. A lemon may be used; I have known those who, unable to obtain better, have permitted it: yet, when possible, never forget a sour orange. A travelling painter had been retained at a convent to take the portrait of its patron saint. His work being finished, all admired it. They placed it with pomp over the altar, with the following inscription in letters of gold:-" Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam." The painter was thanked, overpowered with praises, and very badly paid. The evening previous to his departure from the convent, wishing to revenge himself on the monks, he got up during the night, rubbed out the portrait, and set to work. With a few strokes of the brush he altered the figure, previously represented in prayer, as sitting on a sofa. Before him was a well-covered table, on which, under his nose, was placed a roast partridge, the steaming odour of which promised to the happy expectant positive joy; and in the hands, previously pressed in the attitude of devotion, he placed a fine orange, from which the saint appeared to squeeze the juice with much satisfaction. The following day the monks found their picture still over the altar, the motto was unaltered; you might still read, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam." THE PHEASANT. THIS bird is the king of game. At its name the eyes of a sportsman sparkle; his heart beats: listen to him; if he relate to you his exploits in the field, the word pheasant is never named with indifference. He speaks of partridges, hares, rabbits, with carelessness; but when he comes to this noble bird, his mouth is full, and he speaks of it with respect. The lucky possessors of property in the shape of coverts, woods, &c., are rarely without pheasants. The great consolation to those who cannot afford to preserve them is, that they are by nature rovers a property, however large, not having sufficient range for them they ever desire to visit their neighbours. Having then a friendly preserve at hand, it is as well to plant a small covert in the immediate neighbourhood, or sow an acre of buck-wheat. Providence is |