Old farts with beards? Hmm, maybe in a few years! though there's a young one with a beard I like more and more: Karl Urban, who plays Eomer in Return of the King. Yummy! (I saw it on Thursday at a press screening).

Quail? I do not know the literary reference, but I would be happy to have a goat cooking the little things. My dad used to raise them in our garage. I can't remember why. He raised chinchilla for a time, too.

I think these birds would do nicely if we rub them with garlic and olive oil, crushed thyme, black pepper and coarse salt, and spit-roast them over the fire...no forks and knives allowed, hands only! very Henry the Eighth...