Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-26
INSECTS AS FOOD.
A SUBJECT OF INTEREST TO EVERY
PHlLANTHRoPlsT.
A Naturaiists Plausible Propositions--
Additional Statements which Occur
to u Reflective Mind--Inscct
Food Made shionable.


gentleman of considerable reputation
naturalist, and with an ambition to DO
considered benefactor 10 his race, has
written n book on whose title page appears
tho following words: why Not Eat In
sectsp Ho shows what is by no means
new, that they are very numerous and exist
in great variety. II requires little argu-
mont to demonstrate tho proposition that
they arc within the reach Of all,n includ-
ing the poorest The statement Is then
ma !e, tho truthfulno3s of which mono Will
question, that their number might be
greatly reduced with obvious advantage to
all persons, especially farmers and fruit
growers, II is n woll-known fact that food
crops In various parts of tho world are
often destroyed by insects. That nearly all
the insects injurious to vegetation are of
fine flavor and very numerous, the author
Of this work declares from personal oxpe-
enco to be true. He Gays he knows whereof
he speaks for he has tastcd them in various
ways, AMI was a,tonishol TO SOC how appo-
tizing they are.
Many of them are delicious when eaten
raw, while others are improved by cooking
Many of thom have a gamcy, spicy, or pep
perry flavor which makes them very appe-
tizing II Is seldom necessary to use condi-
ments on them. He says insects furnish a
variety Of agreeable flavors not found in tho
COS commonly employed for food even
when they are prepared for the table by tho
most skillful cooks The art of cooking in
sects is yet in its Infancy, and n conse-
quence their possible value as articles of
food has not been ascertaincd He advises
not only epicures but dyspoptics, and all
who have poor appetites or suffer from in
digestion, to try insects. He insists that
many of them are delicious from the first,
while the taste for othorS is acquired.
The arguments made by this writer in
favor OF eating insects are all good, If they
are not convincing. He might havo added
to them how birds, animals, and fish thrive
that live principally, If not entirely, on in
sects. The whale is Gn inSoct-eater and, rs
is we'll known, assumes enormous proper
tions, while II Is very fat, active, and strong,
and ordinarily lives II century if it does not
meet violent death The giant ant-eater
Is a formidable beast remarkable for its
strength and long life. The most beautiful
rs well aS the most musical of all our song
birds subsiSt almost entirely on u dot OF
insects. The mocking bird soon loses its
superior gift of song and imitation il de-
prved Of spiders, which constitute its
favorite article Of food. Hero Is a sugges-
ton that operasingers wSlld do we'll to take
advauta of.
distinguished ornithOlOgist states that
the metallic luster on the plumage OF birds
is due to the insects they eat. Birds that
deyour grain. fish. on1 vepetablos have
homely or unattractive plumage, but the
feathers OF birds that eat bugs ants and n
variety of smal! insects are very beautiful,
The crow. which eats corn and meat il an
awkward. clumsy. disnyreeablo bird that
produces n most discnriaut snuni and has
no friends The lady lira bownver IL n
marvel of beauty and loveliness and spends
il, time when not disnlovin,, H. fino p1,,m,yo
in eating insects. One of the most beautiful
of all our common insects il the lady bup
which sutsista entirelv ou other in .ects Tha
most beautiful of all fish IA well MS the nne
most desired for food. is the brook front
Its food in its natural state consists of in
sects Transferred to artificial ponds and
beautyand excellence ns n table daintv It's
fine color md exnuisito flavor ann,ar tn H.,
due To the insects il eats
The women of Circassia arc reparled as
the most beautiful in tho world, Their food
il largely of tho kind of which John tho
Baptist partook In the portion of Asia
where they live, locusts arc served up in
various STYLES and constitute ono of the lead
ing articles of food They are stewed in
goats or mare, milk. and ara said To form
n dish that Gun scarcely be- di,ting1IisheI
from one of slowed oysters. They are friei
in olive oil, broiled on Goals, and. mixed
with dates. are baked after tho manner of