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Roasted Quails

To prepare this dish successfully a clear hot open fire is best, but in lieu of that a very hot oven will answer. Pluck, singe and draw the birds, wipe them with a wet towel, cut off the heads and feet. wrap each bird in a slice of fat salted pork, and pack them closely in a saucepan just large enough to hold them. Season the quails highly with salt and cayenne, pour over just enough boiling water to cover them, place the cover on the saucepan, and place it on a hot fire for five or ten minutes. Then take up the quails, remove the pork, wipe the birds on a clean towel, rub them all over with butter and roast them brown before a very hot fire, or in a hot oven, basting them twice with more butter and their drippings. Meanwhile strain the gravy in which they were stewed, and melt it with an equal quantity of red currant jelly to form a sauce, or serve cold red currant jelly with them. Serve the birds hot as soon as they are browned.