Scientific Intelligence. — Anthropology. 405 



M. Jacobson's opinion respecting the parasitic nature of the 

 young shells, for how can it be conceived that parasites should 

 be contained in a parcel, like the eggs of the mollusca, and 

 ejected by the animal itself ? They also invalidate what M. de 

 Blainville has mentioned respecting a parcel of eggs expelled by 

 the animal. As to M. Jacobson's argument, derived from the 

 presence of umbones in these young bivalves, in favour of the 

 opinion which considers them as parasites, it does not appear to 

 me capable of being adopted ; for, might it not be the case, that 

 these small umbones were already the rudiments of all those 

 protuberances which form on each edge of the valves on the 

 two sides of the hinge, and which are destined to give so great 

 a solidity to the two valves when they are applied to each other ? 

 These umbones are rather appendages inserted upon the rim of 

 the valves than a portion of the valves themselves.*" 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



26. Diversity of taste respecting Food. — ^We have many ex- 

 amples of the partiality of comparatively civilized races of men 

 to a diet which to us appears loathsome and offensive, and which 

 these nations, from habit, or naturally depraved taste, would 

 prefer to the choicest dishes at an alderman's dinner in Guild- 

 hall. The Pariahs of Hindostan (it is observed in a recent 

 work), attracted by the stench of rotten carcases, fly in crowds 

 to dispute the infectious carrion with the dogs, and other birds 

 of prey. They share the mass of corruption, and return to 

 their dens to devour it without rice, seasoning, or any other ac- 

 companiment. Little do they care of what disease the animal 

 may have died, for they make no scruple to poison secretly their 

 neighbours'* oxen and cows to provide a savage repast for their 

 ravenous appetites. The bushmen of southern Africa generally 

 eat the flesh raw ; and when they cook it, they only warm it, 

 and apply their teeth to it the moment it is taken from the ashes. 

 The inhabitants of the Kurulean Isles are very partial to bear's 

 liver. Chinese arc not particular in their choice of animal food ; 

 cats, dogs, rats, and almost every species of animals, serpents, 

 &c. ; and which have either been killed or died a natural death. 

 It was a practice in China, dt one time, for tavern keepers to 

 put to death a fat guest, when opportunity served, and to make 



