The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-22
QUEER THINGS NAN EATS.
Earth. SPaweed. Birds Nests. Turtles,
Frogs, Snaiis and Coal Anon. Them.

Complaint is often made that the averar,
daily meal in the ordinary household is,
monot onolIs round OF mutton and beef |,
the majority Of instances this simple and
oftrntimes un!nteresting cycle Of iood I,
compelled on the score Of convenience and
economy. although with little more thought
and trouble than are usually bestowed m
this matter We are convinced that more yaria.
ton could be contrived. The sub ec, de-.
serves greater attention than it has hitherto
received and the results in all probability
would be pleasing.
In this connection il is interesting - con.
slider some of the more or less odd materials
which man has been led TO choose for III.
purposes OF food. Environment. Of course,
must be a factor in regard 10 this choice and
necessity also, /, is hard 10 imagine ths.
earth would be used for choice a. food md
vet such has been the case in many countries
during famine. The Laplanders mir earth
with their bread the Russian peasant Uses
a rock -four. and the poorer classes IN nun.
gary are driven occasionally 10 eat an earth
which contains but a trtiing proportion o'
nourishing principles
The use OF seaweed az food is an examnA
Of the determining factors Of both necessity
and environment II is not a little astonish.
ing to find what a Der OF seaweeds are
really edible and rourishine Perhaps thu
best known eNampl. III this country is laver,
which is n Kind of stew made from weed.
an alga lporpptra iac'niatal, The LAYER nada
some London shops is excellent Tn" sea
algs,, indeed. prove on ANALYSIS to conthin
considerable proportion Of nierogcnors mat.
ter. and as they ar" usually tender thew are
iii gestibla. There are also several sea moses
which are esteemed for their esculent prop.
critics.
Agar-arar is another example Of sea:
weed Welding nutrient Jelly, 1t is supposed
that the edible birds. nest so highly esteemed
Chinese has its origin in the, birds feeding
upon agar-agar. On the other hand, Y "a
said that the substance of which the nest i
composed ia secreted from certain glands
which are developed during the nest build
ing season but which lose this function after
ward. The visrid substance resembles ne
muCin or albumin excre,ed by the subAhs!al
gland
The turtle may be re garded rs m odd article
edible reptile. at least in this country, Frogs
legs again. are rarely eaten in I his country,
though they are easily digcstcd. possess
delicate flavor. and have about tho same
nntritve value as chicken. Neither Is he
country. though in France II is partaken o'
in large quantities and so good is il that !,
has been called the poor mans OYSTER
The edible snail. however. v particular
kind and ia generally collected in consider.
of France. In Spain the snail is served N !
most excellent and appetizing manner, ana
in Paris a dish of selected snailS Is reserved
tor the special use of the gourmet Coal woIt
Instances are known in which children and
cats have been found consuming It in a no'
negligible quantity. There is no evidence
however. although coal contains an a"ln.
OF food e. carbon-that in this form II 10
in the lea ct degree assimiluteu