HUMAN FOODS 27 



ticular. Almost all bivalves, snails or other t}'pes, marine, 

 fresh water or terrestrial, which are large enough or abundant 

 enough to make it worth while to gather them are used. Gen- 

 erally speaking univalves are considered inferior to bivalves, 

 though the abalone or Hahotis is a great favorite in the east 

 and in Cahfornia, and in the West Indies the large conch or 

 Iambi is very highly prized. Squids and octopus of various 

 kinds are in much demand in many parts of the world, and 

 the first named form the basis for an important industry both 

 in the Mediterranean region and in the east, especially in 

 the Sea of Japan. As I know from personal experience both 

 are very good when properly prepared. 



Lobsters, and crabs and shrimps of various sorts and some- 

 times cray-iish make up the list of crustaceans which we con- 

 sider edible. Elsewhere many more kinds are eaten than 

 with us, among the stranger forms the large barnacles and 

 the eggs of the horse-shoe crabs. 



When you go through a fish market in the eastern countries 

 or in the Mediterranean region do not assume that everything 

 exposed for sale is edible. The intention of the proprietor 

 is to sell as much as he can; you are supposed to know the 

 food value of your purchase. One often sees beautiful brittle- 

 stars, queer star-fish, "tiger tusks" and other things displayed 

 more by way of ornament than for any other purpose. 



The prejudice accompanying increasing civilization operates 

 to diminish the consumption of insects as food. We dislike 

 to eat bugs, no matter how nutritious they may be. Other 

 races, however, view the subject in quite a dift'erent light. 

 The seventeen year locust, or periodical cicada, in the years of 

 its abundance used to form an important article of food for 

 the Indians, who usually ate them boiled. They were caught 

 in great quantities as they emerged from the ground to trans- 

 form into the winged state. The white settlers, imbued with 

 the English prejudice against eating insects, never adopted this 

 habit, though they found them very useful for boihng into soap. 

 The ancient Greeks thought so well of the song of the cicada 



