Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-01-15
WHO BIRDS Eccs AS FOOD.


Many xEao Are Eaten In Europo ana
Regarded As Deiicseies.
In Germany and Holland crows
eggs are considered q luxury among
she poorer classes, and on Prince
Bismarck's eighty-third birthday u
present Of one hundred Of these was
made TO him The eggs of the rock
ere also looked upon as delicate food
by the Germans and Hollanders. The
Chinese 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 tho
natives depend largely upon this kind
of food. which the birds prepare for
them Ia nests. and so important IS the
source of this food considered that
they will rarely destroy the birds.
On the great rookeries they have
found the eggs supplied abundantly
for them for ages. and they gather
them SO easily that there is no DISPOSE
ton 70 destroy the birds. il Is only
when civilized man comes, intent upon
destroying the birds for their feathers
aud plumes. that these great island
rookeries have been depopulated.
In the markets of Holland-the
greatest centre for wild birds eggs
we find displayed for sale the eggs OF
nearly all large wild birds, such as the
crow, rock, gull, ployer, peewit, red
shanks, guillemOt, blue heron, Wild
duck, sheldrake and many others.
/ The eggs are gathered for these
markets from the large colonies along
the coast. The Isle of Texel supplies
] ~ II o. t1ra
Hollanders. This island Is given mp
largely TO sheep grazing. and the
shepherds make q little extra pocket
money in gathering the wild fowls
eggs from the rocks and broad heaths.
In Frieaand the farmers have
almost tanned the sheldrakes like
domesticated fowls. The sheldrakes
have laid their eggs in count
less numbers on the heaths of the
Dutch Norfolk, and the farmers, in
stead Of killing the birds or Brighten
ing them away. cultivate their acquaint-
ance and build artificial burrows OF
nests in the grass for them. In these
nests the sheidrakes go on laying their
eggs, despite the fact that they are
almost daily robbed oithem. In some
j
permit the farmers 70 handle them <
remove the eggs. In return for al
this the farmers protect the birds, and
after certain season they permit th'
birds 20 sit on their eggs and hatcl
, out young ones. The young shell
brakes are protected just as much q
our young barnyard chickens are.
STRENGTHENING has become a legiti
mate vocation on the Irish and Scot
tish coasts and on all the islands slon
the shores. The men who engage i
the hazardous work carry their live
!, daily IN fi7tr hands, for the sea-bird
: build their nests among the most II
= accessible peaks and crags Of th
I mountains and on lodges and rock
overlooking the sea, where sure deaf
awaits the one who makes a false steI
. The men swing down from the top {
: the cliffs by means OF ropes, and VIII
: dangling IN this insecure position b'
: tween earth and heaven they gathe
!, the eggs OF the ducks, vultures, gOlde
eagles. cormorants and similar bird
The .egg-collector descends the fac
: Of the cliff in his bare feet, and prov
;, ded only with a stout stick and egl
: basket A companion from above ger
: orally helps him. IN his descent an
guides him in his perilous movement
- along the face Of the mountain.
= The chief eggs that are sold for ca
y ing in Holland and other Europes
= cities include those Of the wild duel
~ and fowls, gulls. plovers, sheldrake
- neadow-hens, guillemots. peewit
- red-shanks, turnstOnes, snipe, curlew
~ dunlins, crows, rocks, cranes. heron
= coots. storks, pelicens, vultures, hawk
~ owls and many of the smaller lar
- birds. These Wild birds eggs a
: cheaper in many countries than her
- eggs, and they constitute the chi
: egg diet of both rich and poor.-Bc
y ton Transcript
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