The Ravalli Republican., 1898-09-14
WILD BIRDS EGGS AS FOOD.

WILD BIRDS EGGS As FOOD.
Many That Arc Eaten In Europe and Re-
garded as Delicaciea-
In Germany and Holland crows
eggs are considered a luxury among
the poorer classes, and OH Prince
Bismarck eighty third birthday a
present of 100 OF these was made to
him. The eggs of the rook are also
looked upon as delicate food by the
Germans and Hollanders. The Chi
neso are not only fond Of swallows
nest SOUP but they eat the eggs of
this little bird with great relish.
Among the south sea islands the
natives depend largely upon this
kind of food, which the birds pre-
pare for them in nests, and SO ina-
portant is the source of this food
considered that they will rarely de-
stroy the birds. On the great rook-
cries they have found the eggs sup
piled abundantly for them for ages,
and they gather them SO easily that
there is no disposition to destroy
the birds. It is only when civilized
man comes, intent upon destroying
the birds for their feathers and
plunes, that these great island rook-
cries have been depopulated.
In the markets of Holland-the
greatest center for wild birds oggs
we find displayed for sale the eggs
of nearly all large wild birds, such
as the crow, rook, gull, plover, pee
wit, redshanks, guillemot, blue her
on, wild duck, sheldrake and many
others. The eggs are gathered for
these markets from the large col
onies along the coast The isle Of
Texel supplies many of tho wild
birds eggs for the Hollanders This
island is given up largely to sheep
grazing, and the shepherds make a
little extra pocket money in gather
ing the wild fowls eggs from the
pocks and broad heaths.
In Friesland the farmers have al
most tanned the sheldrakes like do
mesticated fowls. The sheldrakes
have laid their eggs in countless
numbers on the heaths of the Dutch
Norfolk, and the farmers, instead Of
killing the birds or frig ghtening them
away, cultivate their acquaintance
and build artificial burrows or nests
in the grass for them. In these nests
the sheldrakes go on laying thei1
eggs, despite the fact that they art
almost daily robbed Of them. II
some instances tho female birds will
even permit the farmers to handle
them to remove the eggs. In return
for all this the farmers protect tht
birds, and after a certain season they
permit the birds to sit on their egg
and hatch out young ones Th'
young sheldrakes are protected jus
as much as our young barnyart
chickens are. M.". .5.". s"
Egg gathering has become a legit
innate vocation on the Irish ant
Scottish coasts and on all the island
along the shores The men who Ell
gage in the hazardous work carr.
their lives daily in their hands, TO
the sea birds build their nests amon
the most inaccessible peaks an
erags of the mountains and Gu ledge
and rocks overlooking tho sea, wher
sure death awaits the one who make
a false step. The men swing dow
from the top of the cliffs by mean
Of ropes, and while dangling i'll thi
insecure position between earth an
heaven they gather the eggs Of tn
ducks, vultures, golden eagles, COZ
morants and similar birds. The eg
collector descends the face of til
cliff in his bare feet and provide
only with a stout stick and egg ba!
ket. A companion from above gel
orally helps him in his descent an
guides him in his perilous mov'
n1ents along the face Of the moul
tain.
The chief eggs that are sold fc
eating in Holland and other Eur
poan cities include those OF the vii
ducks and fowls, gulls, plover
eheldrakes, meadow hens, gull
mots, pewits, redshanks, turl
stones, snipe, curlews, dunlin
crows, rocks, cranes, herons, coot
storks, pelicans, vultures, hawk
owls and many of the smaller lar
birds. These wild birds eggs q
cheaper in many countries ths
hens egga, and they constitute Il
chief egg diet of both rich and poo
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