Of Mutton

The belt sheep are bred in dry pastures and downs, where the air is pure and dry. The youngest is generally recommended; but some gentlemen of fortune will not touch it till it is above five years old; the taste and flavour being then rich and high : However, it ought to be well fed, fat, and free from the distemper which sheep are subject to, that is the rot. It is greatly nourishing, balsamic, creates good juices, and agrees with all ages and constitutions. Weather mutton is belt, the next is that of the ewe; but ram-mutton is rank, and has a smell much like a goat.

Of The Kid And Goat

A kid should be killed before it is weaned, and under fix months old : for as this creature advances in age, the flesh becomes hard, tough, and has a disagreeable smell; the flesh is easy of digestion, very nourishing, and breeds good juices : it may be eaten at all times of the year, and agrees with all ages and constitutions, especially those that are recovering after a fit of sickness, or whole strength is exhausted : the flesh of a goat is rank and un-pleasant, but if gelded when young, he becomes fat, and yields good nourishment. The flesh of the shamois-goat is more pleasant and wholesome.

Of The Roe-Buck And Roe

These animals are to be met with in woody mountains such as the Alps, in Switzerland, and some some parts of Scotland. The roe-buck has branched horns, which fall off yearly, and is of the size of a goat, of which kind he seems to be. It is a fearful nimble animal, running with great swift-ness, and has a very acute sight, seeing as well by night as by day. If this creature is killed when fat, young, and well fed, the flesh yields excellent nourishment fit for any age or constitution; but if old, it is dry, tough, and hard of digestion.

Of Venison

Venison is a flesh that is generally admired, e-specially while it is fat and in season, which is generally till September for buck-venison; at which time he begins to rut, and then the flesh becomes rank and disagreeable. Doe-venison is not so ex-quisite and high flavoured, but is very good eating if not too old, and is very wholesome and nou-rishing. When these animals are old, the flesh. becomes hard and compact, hard of digestion, lies heavy on the stomach, and generates gross melancholic humours. Venison agrees well with all ages and sexes, but is most proper for young people of bilious constitutions, and who use a great deal of exercise : but there needs little caution on this head, because the price of venison is so high, there is no danger of living upon it constantly. The horns are of great use for making gellies, which are useful to re-establish the strength, to fortify the stomach, to sheath the acrimony of the humours, to stop a looseness, vomiting, and spit-ting of blood.

Of Hares

A hare should be young, tender, well fed, fat, and caught by hunting: the flesh yields moderate nourishment, and generates good juices. However, when too old, it is hard of digestion, breeds gross melancholic humours, and renders persons heavy and sleepy. Hares that frequent low, moist, mar-shy grounds are not so good as those that live on dry land and mountainous countries, because these last seed on aromatic herbs, which render the flesh of a finer taste, and a more high flavour. They are likewise better in winter then in the summer, for in cold weather the flesh is more tender, more easy of digestion, and has a more delicate relish.