J 8 ANIMALS OF LAND AND SEA 



few in kinds and scarce or, like the peccaries, rather dangerous, 

 more different sorts of mammals are regularly consumed as 

 food than elsewhere. The tapirs, peccaries and deer are favor- 

 ites; but the anteaters, sloths, monkeys, pumas, porcupines 

 and' armadillos, as well as other kinds are also eaten. 



In our own country, besides the various hoofed animals, 

 bears, opossums, wild hares and rabbits, muskrats, porcupines, 

 and even skunks are eaten, the last three much less now than 

 formerly. In some places in the East the large fruit bats are 

 esteemed as food; but most people find their flesh too strong. 

 Chicken and rice three times a day for six whole weeks once 

 formed my bill of fare. Then we caught a whale and I ac- 

 quired forty pounds of good fresh meat. Under the circum- 

 stances, perhaps, my judgment might be questioned; but I 

 still look back on that whale meat as the finest meat I ever 

 tasted, resembling the best of beef, but much more tender. 

 I had no ice, and this was in the tropics, so in a day or two 

 the flavor of whale oil was noticeable. This was corrected by 

 some curry powder; but in a few days more it got to be too 

 strong for any remedy, and I gave it to the natives, it being 

 then in just the state in which they most prefer it. 



All the whales are excellent as food, but the irregular supply 

 prevents the widespread use of whale meat, though we some- 

 times find it in our restaurants, and one can often buy it canned. 

 The larger whales are much like tender beef, but the porpoises 

 and dolphins which eat fish have a more or less marked fishy 

 flavor. In Greenland whale skin takes the place of chewing- 

 gum. 



Seals are used as food in many places, and their tongues 

 especially are prized, as are the tongues of whales. 



Sea-cows or manatees and dugongs are highly prized as food 

 wherever they are found, but they are fast becoming rare. 

 The largest of them, which lived in the Commander Islands, 

 for some time has been extinct. 



Nearly all kinds of birds are eaten if large enough to make 

 it worth one's while or obtainable in sufficient quantities, 



