The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-27
The TrOeadero In Paris,
Turtles for Som.

A correspondent of Hdrdloicke's Science Gossip
gives some account OF experiments with the
edible turtle:-
'Mr W. zeppenfeldt the proprietor of an
oyster-cellar and refreshmentrooms in Ham
burg, and an importer of living turtles for soup
purposes, frequently obtains specimens weigh
ing from three hundred pounds to four hundred
pounds, and he keeps them sometimes for three
or four months, but these large ones never eat
anything during that time. About ten months
since, however, he got two small ones and
weie ehing thirty pounds and one eighteen
pounds, and finding that these took food one
were unusually lively they we're not killed, but
preserved for cuIiositys sake. The larger one
OF the two Mr.. Zeppenfeldt himself kept, and
the other he kindly sent to the Hamburg aqua
rum; but / had no proper accommodation
where it could swim about without stirring up
the water too much, and accordingly trans
ferred IT. 10 small open-air pond, where 1t lived
with some water birds, till in q few weeks it
died, Its food was raw cabbage and other green
stuff.
''Mr. zeppenfeldt kept his turtle in a very
large open, shallow wooden tub of fresh water
which in summer was changed daily and in cool
weather every other day. In the middle was a
large stone forming an island, ON which the
animal rested for some hours daily when not
swimming or floating. 1t was kept in the open
air, but out of the sun, in fine warm weather;
and at night and in cold seasons it was removed
within doors. 1t was fed on raw cabbage, and
on lettuces, and other salads, carefully given by
hand, and all unconsumed fragments were
taken out OIL Lne luD Wleu the animal had had
enough. 1t took food so freely, indeed, that it
increased in weight about two pounds during
the nine or ten months of captivity when 1t
died. l do not know of any specimen having
lived so long IN confinement as this one. | have
often had small ones, and have seen them in the
Regents Park aquarium, but their life has
always been measured by few days, or week
or two at most. Mr.. Zeppenfeldrs success was
undoubtedly owing to the great care he took of
his animal, and by the fact of its being kept in
vessel in which the creature was easily acces-
sble 10 be fed and cleaned. Much Importance
was attached to the state of the turtles eyes,
tcpd water Eeyg l5e6a8s R8g8sf sro%H every day With
kind OF Shiny mucus which caused sickness and
loss of appetite.
For the sake of the bearing it has on natural
history, it may be just named that Nh. Zeppen-
tedt makes Chinese blrd's-nest soup so frequently
that the dish always stands In print on tue DIN
ner cdrtes of the house, and it is retaiied to
customers at the rate OF four shillings sterling
a plateful. l do not know of any place in
London or Paris where this scarce article is
thus common. The nests themselves, the pro-
duce of swallow (HtTundO eSCutentd), are
shown before being dissolved, and are cup.
shaped, or rather boat-shape6, masses OF grayish
looking gelatine, having no very decided TASTE"
English Masonic Items-Among the Kings of
England who were Grand Masters were Alfred,
in the year 900; Henry W. l44G; Henry VII,
1900; James l, l603 Charles |, 1925; Charl S
II, 1860; and William III, 1902. The Duke Of
Wellington was made Mason when a colon Fl
in the British army-his own father being at the
time Master of the Lodge he joned Sir
Robert Peel was also a Mason. Lord Brougham
was initiated on the goth of August, 1870. Toe
Red Cross Knights cannot close heir College of
ViceIoys in England without the recital OF the
seven precepts Of the prelates. After the Eng
lish Masonic dinners, Non NObis Domino is fire.
quently sung, the toasts, songs, and glees fol-
lowing.
Sold-IThe French Government is finding pur-
chasers for its old-ashioned arms. 1t has sold
70 the Government of Siam twelve mountain
mortars, six hundred shells, and twelve hundred
Illuminating Wads. The perOr has Just agreed
TO the sale of forty-eight mortars, of descrp.
ton no longer used in the French army.
Profitable Linen.-The number of el0 free
holders in Dundee has increased more than
one-half during the last ten years, striking
testimony to the prosperous state of the chief
seat of the Scotch linen trade. In 1867, the
number OF voters was 2206; ii is now 1888.