By the practice of crimping, this state is advantage ously increased, to give greater firmness to the soft flesh of fish. But the flesh of quadrupeds becomes more tender, and of more easy digestion, by being kept some tame after death, till the tonic contraction is destroyed. The tenderness which flesh acquires by being kept, is no doubt to be in part attributed to the commencement of that spontaneous decomposition, which soon termi nates in the putrefaction and dissolution of its sub stance.
The last general remark we have to make on this subject, is that the flesh of phytivorous aninrals is, c.cteri.v paribus, less alkalescent, more wholesome, more agree able, and more digestible, than that of carnivorous animals.
Having thus analytically reviewed the alimentary principles, and different parts of animals used as food, the account of the different genera and species from which these are derived, may be much abridged, and need not detain us long.
The flesh of quadrupeds is more largely consumed than that of any other class of animals ; and indeed those in common use, in most parts of Europe, possess all the alimentary properties in the highest perfection. They belong to the three orders of Pecora, Glires, and Bel luaa Bull-beef is tough, dry, of a very disagreeable fla vour, and therefore seldom eaten. This affords us one example of the great amelioration of the alimentary qualities of the flesh of animals by castration ; for ox beef is at once agreeable, nourishing, wholesome, and tenderer even than the flesh of the cow. Veal, the flesh of the young animal, is more delicate, and more gela tinous than beef; but, at the same time, less nourishing, less stimulant, and in reneral not so easily digested. It is less animalized, and therefore less putrescent, than almost any other flesh. Indeed the jelly and broth of very young veal is disposed to become even acescent.
Mutton is esteemed one of the best aliments ; it is also one of the most common. The flesh of the uncas trated animal is hardly eatable. \Vedder mutton, not under two years old, is agreeable, tender, and succulent ; at five years, ithas probably attained its highest p,:rfec tion. Ewe-mutton is much inferior to it. Lamb bears the same relation, in its alimentary properties, to mutton, that veal does to beef. It is less stimulant and less nu tritive than mutton. But if the lamb have been properly nursed for six months, or a little more, and not weaned, as is too often done, at two months old, it affords a most agreeable, sufficiently nourishing, and digestible aliment.
Goat's flesh is coarser, and in every respect inferior to that of the sheep. The flesh of the kid is sufficiently tender and delicate.
Venison is an aliment in great estimation. It is very nutritive, and easily digested. The fh sh of die young fawn is tender, succulent, and gelatinous ; hut the most nutritive and bust flavoured grown animal of four years old, or more. The best season lOr killing it is in the month of August ; for, in the rutting season, September and October, the animal becomes lean, and its flesh rank, tough, and ill flavoured. The flesh of the female is at all times inferior to that of the male. The fallow-deer is commonly better fattened than
the stag, and its flesh upon the whole is tenderer. That of the roebuck is also very tender ; but it is inferior in flavour, and other qualities, to the fallow-deer.
Pork is an aliment without doubt highly nutritious ; but, on account of the fat, with which it abounds, not so digestible. It is stimulant and savoury, though its par ticular flavour is not agreeable to every one. It yields, however, to those ith whom it agrees, much nourish ment. By the ancients it was regarded as the strongest of all aliments, and was therefore much employed in the diet of the athletze. The flesh of the uncut boar is strong, coarse, and ill flavoured ; that of the sow which has farrowed is also disagreeable. The flesh of the cas trated animal is freed from this ill flavour ; it is also latter, tenderer, and more digestible. The flesh of the sucking pig, like that of other young animals, abounds in gelatine, and affords a more delicate, lighter, and less stimulant aliment, than that of the full grown animal.
The hare and rabbit afford agreeable and wholesome food. The former is more dense, higher flavoured, and more stimulant than the latter, the flesh of which is white and delicate, and, of the young rabbit, very tender, and easily digestible.
The aliment obtained from birds is, in general, less nourishing than that derived from the mammiferous quadrupeds. The flesh of those birds, which feed on grains and fruits, is the most delicate, and most easily digested. The flesh of water-fowl, and such as devour fish, insects, and the like, is commonly very alkalescent, oily, strong flavoured, highly nourishing, but heavy, and of more difficult digestion.
The birds in most common use, and yielding at the same time the best aliment, belong to the gallinaceous family. Their flesh is white, of the most agreeable and delicate flavour, little heating, and, when not too old, succulent, nutritive, and easily digested. To this order belong The properties of the domestic fowls require no farther comment. The different species of Tetrao furnish an aliment rather more stimulant, sapid, and alkalescent. but wholesome, and sufficiently digestible. A stronger, heavier, and more stimulant food, is furnished by •11: hilds of the next order. the Anse family.
.17ta,;. .1thsrr . The goose, domestic and wild.
. . The duck.
Bo.schas . . The whd duck.
Penelope . . The widgeon.
Crecca . . . The teal.
.11ca Torda . . . Razor bill.
Pelicanu.s• BasNanus Solon goose.
The flesh of these birds is very nourishing, but con siderably heating, strong flavoured, and alkalescent. They arc not, therefore, so well suited to the weak and delicate, as the gallinaceous fowls are ; nor are they in general so easily digested.
Scololtax Rusticola . . AVoodcock.
Gallinago . . . Snipe.
.th.queta . . . Curlew.
Tringa Squataro/a . . Grey Plover. Vanellus . . . Lapwing.
Charadriu• . Green plover.
Fulica Fusco . . . . Brown gallinule. Ch/orupus . . Common water-hen. RolluS Cr(' . r Land rail.
These, and some others of this family, arc savoury and well flavoured aliments, moderately stimulant, whole some and sufficiently digestible.