Its probably an early example of the interferance of the European Union in daily life, before they waded in you could have as many blackbirds, or any other bird, as you liked in your pie. Then one day an early eurocrat squinting over his Velum and inkpot decided that four and twenty was a nice round number and hence the regulation blackbird euro-pie was born. Early enforcemnt of this regulation was doubtlessly left to the Spanish inquisition as they scared the crap out of most people anyway, except in France where they said good idea lets do it, then promptly did their own thing anyway, just like today.

Sledge

:)