meat off

— The birds, when secured, are placed in a store cage, and quickly conveyed to the bird dealers in the Seven Dials. These worthies then proceed at once to "meat them off" This is accomplished thus :— Some fresh raw beef is scraped; and being divested of all fibrous substance, it is mixed into a soft paste, with cold water and hardboiled yolk of egg. This is put into a large bird pan. In the middle of this food is placed a very small inverted liqueur glass, with the stem broken off Under this glass are introduced three or four lively meal worms, whose oft-repeated endeavours to break out of prison attract the attention of the Nightingale. Not understanding how these worms are placed beyond his reach, he continues to peck at them, until by degrees he tastes the beef and egg, which is artfully rubbed over the sides of the glass. This being palateable, he satiates his appetite with it, and soon feels a zest for it — particularly as his attempts to get at the meal worms always prove abortive. He now eats regularly — he is meated off.