The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-30

most nourishing and agreeable. Many a white man has pressed through a country, believing himself nearly starving as large game was not to be had, when worms and various insects were at hand. During the flight of 1ocusts Indians somtimes collect them in bags, wash them and cook them for meal 935 -,
 The most singular food in all proba- bility, Is the larvae of a fly. common in certain portions of California and known as Ephydra. This insect Is found in such vast quantities in Lake Mono, California, that 1t Is washed up< on the shores in vast windrows and can be collected by bushels. The wa- ter of Mono is very singular, seem- ingly very heavy and smooth like oil; so much so that 1t resists ordinary wind and refuses to become ruffled When the larvae begin to appear, the Indians gather from far and near and scrape them up. place the worm-like | creatures on cloths and racks in the | sun and dry them, when they are beaten up and husked, looking then | like rice. The Indians call the food koo-chah- bee, and many bushels are collected at this time; that larvae is nutritious is shown by the condition of the Indians, who soon grow fat on the rich diet. Many birds are at tracted by the larvae and gorge them selves with the singular food
 Files Eaten in Mexico.
 On Lake Texcoco in Mexico a curi- ous fly Is found which also Is eaten by the natives and known as0ahuatl; the eggs of the insect, which are deposited on sedges, are also collected and eaten for food. On Lake Chalco a certain sedge is cultivated on which the eggs of species of fly are deposited. Bundles are made of these and placed in Lake Texcoco for the purpose, and. when covered, the sedge is beaten over pieces .of cloth and the eggs secured.
 These are collected and ground into a meal, also called ahuatl, and are in great demand on fast days when fish is required, the insects or eggs not be- ing considered flesh as they come from the water. The food Is made into small cakes and tastes not unlike caviare. Not only the eggs, but the larvae. them selves a disagreeable looking worm, are used as food under the name of puxi.
 The civilized man, perhaps, turns from such food with disgust. but 1t Is we'll to remember that epicures in many countries. and especially in England and America. are particularly fond of cheese when inhabited by the larvae of q very common fly. In the United States the large octopus or squid. conn mon on the Pacific coast. offends the American palate, but the Italian, Frenchman or Portuguese eats 1t with avidity and considers 1t delicacy. The meat is clear and white like chicken and has the flavor of crab
 The question of national tastes Is an interesting one. and in contrast between those of China and America Is remarka- ble. The objects displayed in the Chinese quarter as dainties are often repugnant to Americans. It is com mon to find the Chinaman selling eggs of unknown age, especially ducks eggs containing ducklings ready to be hatch ed. Shark fins--a tough. disagreeable food-are In demand, while deer horns in the velvet and lizards of various kinds are eaten.
 The nest of the swallow, with It's bed ded secretion of the mouth glands of the birds is nearly worth its weight in gold. Trepang. the tough, impos- sible holothurian, is eaten, and It's col lection is an important industry along the Malay coast, valued at least at Sl00,O00 per annum.
 In France the sea anemone is used as food; stuffed like peppers and boiled 1t calls to mind crab or crayfsh. The echini of various species is also used. cooked in the shell. like an egg. and eaten with @ spoon. In nearly all of the old countries of Europe of the type of Spain and Italy. the poor are so poor that everything in the nature of food is utilized.
 Amazed at Meat supply. Absolutely nothing is wasted and meats is rare. The surprise of an Italian fisherman who landed in cali- fornia after trip around the Horn and was amazed. not at the country. but with the abundance of food. He found his countrymen eating meat twice. perhaps three times a day. when he rarely had it once month.
 He saw hundreds of pounds of fish wasted and discarded merely because ] the people did not care for it, when in