Note 2 — Chapter I
Reading edition
Rounded, too, at the extremities—the outer feathers not being the longest—a formation adverse to rapid flight. The extreme outer feather of young birds is pointed, and, until late in the season, accompanies soft quills, weak brown beaks, and yellow legs. These (beaks and legs) become grey on maturity, or rather of the bluish hue of London milk—and the quills get white and hard—facts which should be attended to by those who are making a selection for the table. Hold an old and a young bird by their under beaks between your fore-finger and thumb, and you will soon see how little, comparatively, the old beak yields to the weight. This rule applies equally to grouse, the legs of which birds when young are not much feathered, but late in the season it is difficult to determine their age. Yet a knowing hand will find a difference, the old birds’ legs will still be the more feathered of the two; and its feet will be more worn and extended. If you spread open the wing of any game-bird, you will find the upper part (near the second joint) more or less bare. The less that part is covered with feathers the younger is the bird.
A poulterer once told me that at the end of the season he judged much of the age of birds by the appearance of their heads.
“Ware” sunken eyes, and tainted or discoloured vents—they have been too long out of the kitchen.