The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-06-12
LOCUSTS FOR BREAKFAST.
Professor Riley Introduces New
ana Rare Dish.

WAsniNGIoN, June IA gentleman
who had an engagement with Professor
Riley called mt his house this morning
and found the entomologist alone in his
dining room reading the morning papers
rs lie finished late breakfast.
Come right IN here" said the Pro-
lessor. 81 want an unprejudiced opinion
about little Natter Then he called
to the servant. Bring me some hot
ones"
The visitor, despite the fnct that he
had brcakfasted, was induced to seat
himself ut the table "iust for the eNper-
iment," and was served with n spoonful
Of dark brown objects. like very small
fried oysters. lie eyed them susp-
ciously moment. having discovered be-
meath the crust of bread crumbs lami-
mated back, something like that of small
shrimp.
What do you call it,"
"The Cicada. They ought to have
been cooked in"
"What Bugsyn
mo, no. not bugs, only the cioada-
miscalled the ilfteen-year locust. Don't
be afraid of them. They are only the
qulntescence OF vegetable juices, and
everything in nature feeds upon them
ravenously.'
yhereupon the host took one OF the
things, bit II In two, munched and swal-
lowed 1t with an appearance of relish.
The guest shut his eyes, and attempted
to bolt whole cicada. The object
crushed in his mouth, and proved to be
little else than II delicate shell, but its
flavor was found to be far from Disagree
able.
"All its juices were absorbed in the
batter" said the Professor, eXplana-
torily.
Neither the entomologist nor his visi-
tor was able to liken the flavor to any
thing with which they were familiar,
but they agreed in the opinion that, vul-
gar prejudice once overcome, the clcada
would be esteemed n rare tidbid-rare,
certainly, since 1t required II years TO
ripen- and that 1t might take rank with
frogs legs, birds nests, shad roes, and
whitehall.
II spent an hour last night" said the
host, gathering them, and they were
very beautiful when fresh. took them
just as the pupa began to break. They
were creamy white and plumb, and
looked good enough TO eat raw, but |
didn't venture. | think these should
have been stewed instead Of fried
stewed in milk. presume they would
be nearly asgood as grasshoppers"
ADO you eat grasshoppers 2"
Certainly. | once ate nothing else
for two days, and found them deli
cious when properly cooked. This Is
only an experiment, of course, but my
eating of grasshoppers had a practical
object in view. The insects had eaten
nearly everything in large region of
county, and many families were on the
verge Of starvation"
Having lighted cigar the entomolo-
gist described his experience in attempt
| ing to Introduce grasshopper diet in
the west. lie cooked the insects In va
rious ways and found them always pala-
table and nutritious.
People Invited to partake always
eyinced aversion at first, but, prejudices
having been overcome, the dish became
favorte with those who essayed ii.
"Both the Gdipoda migratoria," lie
said, land the acridium perigrinum
have been esteemed as food by some ma
tions in all past ages, rs far back at least
rs the Ninevan era. Indeed, some
tribes have been called Aoridophivi,
from the almost exclusive preference
| they give this Diet