THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF BIRDS. 17 



half a million Skylarks every season ; and millions of 

 this bird are caught in various parts of continental 

 Europe. In smaller numbers the well-known Corn- 

 crake, the Coot, the Water-hen, and other species of 

 Rails, are shot for the table, the flesh of all these birds 

 being more or less palatable. Some birds, however, 

 have commercially deteriorated in value as food. In 

 olden times the Heron, the Swan, and the Peacock often 

 graced the festive boards of the nobility, but they are 

 never eaten now. 



If the birds above mentioned are well-known articles 

 of food, the eggs of several of them are none the less 

 important in the dietary of man. First and foremost of 

 them all must be mentioned the eggs of the Domestic 

 Fowl. It would be absolutely impossible to form any 

 correct idea of the number of eggs of this bird which 

 are consumed annually, even by civilised man. Millions 

 upon millions of eggs are eaten every year in London 

 alone ; and yet what an infinitesimal portion of the 

 world's grand total does this represent. The egg 

 industry is an enormous one, and is almost the only 

 source of the wealth of many Continental districts. We 

 must not forget to allude to Plovers' eggs, which are 

 gathered and sold as expensive delicacies. Nor must 

 we fail to notice the vast numbers of sea fowls' eggs 

 which are collected every year for food by fishermen 

 and others ; the egg harvest in many remote corners of 



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