The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-19
HUMAN INSECT EATERS.

Humboldt relates that yellow ants are
eaten in Brazil, mixed with resin as sauce
Locusts are now eaten in the Crimea,
Greece, India, Arabia, Persia, Africa and
Madagascar.
The aboriginas Of Australia make a cake
OF the pounded bodies of q night flying crea-
ture Of the moth genus.
Not contented with the honey and wax
which the bees yield, the Cngalese eat the
insects themselves
The Chinese are fond Of The larvm Of
species of hawk moth, some Of which, accord
ing % Dr. Erasmus Darwin, arc very de-
lcious
White ants are much priced as food in vari-
Gus parts of Africa. The Hottontots eat them
both raw and cooked, and thrive wonderfully
ON them.
Ia India and the East Indies the natives
mix white ants with -four. and make them
into pastry, which is considered 70 be highly
nutruve
The wire worm, the Larvae Of q small
beetle. is eaten in large quantities by Turkish
women, and the Chinese also cat some species
Of worms
The cicaip, loudly hummng four wingei
insects. were largely eaten by the Greeks, and
their delicate flavor was commented on by
many writers.
One of the same pecles of the c0.sus, about
the thickness Of ones finger IS -ilil eaten Do
some parts Of America, Africa, and the West
Indies and Mauritus
Spiders nearly an inch in length are roasted
over the fire and eaten by Tine natives of New
Caledonia. Even educated Europeans have
been known 20 eat them.
Iocusts have been eaten from the remotast
antiquity, and some Ethiopian tribes, from
this circumstance. received the name of Acri
dophagi, or locust eaters
snails have been used as food from yers
ancient times. Piny states that they were
much appreciated in Rome, and were fat
tened ON meal until they attained great size
and excellent favor
piny says CHAT The famous cossi were held
in high esteem among the Roman farIcians.
and were fattened upon flour and wine.
These insects are supposed 90 be grubs of "a
large Lonsicorn beetle.
Perhaps the most disgusting instance Of
reptile eating i- chat recorded by Humboldt
personal Travels. d. 2.5, who asserts that
he sass Indian children drug out of the earth
cenupodos eighteen ucAe. in length, and eat
Them
Theratiaas Of THE lake regions of Central
Africa maleu sort 0. cake out ol the multi.
tudes Of small. dead ln- eis WlIcltley gather
on Che shore. ol The lakes, and in Central
America tho natives make bread of the egg
of large moth.
The Chinese. who are motel for Their
economy. cat fle cArysaIIs of tlo silsworns
after they have unnoual their silk from tA-
coco0ns They lry them in butter or lard,
add thc yeiss of eggs and season with pepper
salt aud vinegar.
The gals of several gall flies cynip', which
are juicy, like apples and crowned with
rudimeufs of leaves re-.mhling the calyx oi
that fruit are esteemed in the LeYant FOR
/ their aromatic flavor and are sold in the
markets of Constantnope.
lillian speaks Of am Indian king who SIT
before his guestsa quantity of roasted worms
/ Of which De said Indians were very fond, foi
/ desert Some Greeks who tastel them arc
said 90 have pronounced their flavor mos.
/ delicious. Humboldt mentions that Che Arabs
/ of Fezzam ate some kinds of worms.
jackson. O traveller Of the last century
says that in 1850, locu-ts were generally
served up in Bu0ary with other dishes, and
were esteemed great de.icacy. They wer3
preferred by the Moors To pigeon; and BE- wa.
said chat person might eat "a plate of about
2OO or so without feeling amy ill effect.
The U0ttentots are said % rejoice at tho
appe.france OF swarm of locusts although
/ the destructive insects dey0ur all the vcr-
/ dure in the district The natives eat them
/ In such quantities that they soon grow per.
ccniibly fatter They also gather the eggs,
and make of them a kind Of brown, or c0i e.
coiored soup.
The Arabs, WHOM there is "a famine, grind
/ locusls in their hand mills, or pound them in
mortars. and mix with -four and water into
dough. which they bake as ordinary bread.
But they not only employ l0custs during a
scarcity of corn. but at other times, eai
them as deucacy. They boil them for d
good while ia water. and ai.erwari sten
them with butter into kind of frcassee O..
good Favor The old GourmanI