The herald., 1898-01-06
EUROPEAN EDIBLE ODDITIES
France Fails With Turkey and Tries
Tinamou-0ther Fancies

The French, always more alert than
ourselves in matters astronomical, are
attempting to add another dish to the
table. They have already tried to &C.
climatize the American wild turkey, but
with little success. Now an expert
ment, and with much more promising
results, has been made with bird called
the Red Tinamou, from South Ameri-
ca. The flesh is pronounced by cpl
cures who have tasted it to be superior
to partridge. It bears good character
as peighboA for it is not quarreIsome
with other birds-R matter Of import
ance, since otherwise 1t would be likely
to get into as bad odor with sportsmen
as the red-legged partridge in England,
which has driven the English bird be-
fore 1t. An addition to our game list
would be welcome. Though our shops
receive foreign rabbits and hares in
plenty, with grouse, ptarmigan, caper-
cailzie, and other game, as we'll as the
beef and mutton of the antipodes, our
ancestors, II one may Judge from the
menu Of olden times, had on the whole
q wider range Of choice than ourselves.
We may be more particular than they
were, but still good many birds which
seem to have once been Airly common
have practically disappeared from these
Islands. We may pass over the pea
cock served at knightly banquets, when
carving was almost a fine art, but q
couple OF centuries ago bitterns and
cranes and bustards were frequently in
cluded in bills Of fare. Some of these,
perhaps, would not receive hearty well
come from the more delicate palates OF
modern days, any more than Solan
goose which figures on the table OF
Jonathan Oldbuck.
But the bustard undoubtedly was ex.
cellent eating, and this once ranged over
the chalk downs and open moors of the
south and east Of England, and was
even found in North Wales and the
south of Scotland. Rufus and reeves
were common dish at party in Cam.
bridge forty years ago; but not many
are now brought to market from the
fenland. Other European countries
have a wider choice of food, for a CONT.
nent has always an advantage over an
island. especially when the latter is sc
crowded that the epithet tight" is pc.
culiarly appropriate. Extensive moors
AAASeAAet~AAcs AOA SSto, VI AC1lS dIe lAVOI6Qle
to abundance and variety Of game
There is very little hope OF INTRODUCING
novelties in England. 1t is all we car
do to keep what we have from disap.
pearing. as hares, thanks to Sir VII.
liam Harcourt, are rapidly doing. The
capercailzie has, indeed, been brought
back to a few forests in Scotland, and
there. too, the roe deer and stag arc
wild under protection. as the latter also
Is on Exmoor. But in many parts Of
Germany the roe is still comparatively
common; the wild boar is not scarce
and there are mountain districts In Cen,
trail Europe where the channels may bs
not only seen, but even eaten-instead
Of the suposititious goat of the tourists
table d'hote. The marmot, also, wher
In good condition, Is by no means with.
out merit. Any attempt to add to home.
produced meats mustsbe with large,
animals and in a domesticated state
and this Is being tried with the Gland
and one or two other creatures. Hin.
pophagy has been introduced in Eng.
land, but It never caught on" and with
good reason-if beef can be got. Don.
key is not bad-but II it became fash.
ionable the price would be prohibitive
Whale has been served at city dinner
land the sauce was pronounced ex.
cellent.-London Standard.