2i 4 UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 



BIRDS (AvEs). Birds are eaten even more indiscriminately 

 than Mammals, though birds of prey and fish-eating forms are 

 avoided. The eggs of some wild birds, e.g. Plovers, are esteemed 

 a delicacy. Edible birds'- nests have been mentioned elsewhere 

 (see vol. iii, p. 462). 



REPTILES (REPTILIA). --The high reputation of the Green 

 Turtle (Che lone my das] is familiar, and other members of the 

 same order (Chelonia) are also eaten in various parts of the 

 world, besides which the eggs of such .creatures may also figure 

 as an article of diet. 



Some of the larger Lizards (Lacertilia) are regularly used as 

 articles of food, especially the Iguanas (Iguanida) of America and 

 the Water-Lizards (Varanidce) of South and South-East Asia. 



To a less extent Crocodiles and Alligators (Crocodilia) and 

 Snakes (Ophidia) serve as a source of food. 



AMPHIBIANS (AMPHIBIA). The only members of the group 

 of importance in this connection are some of the Frogs, which 

 are eaten in India and Europe. In the latter case it is the 

 Edible Frog (Rana esculenta) that falls a victim. 



FISHES (PISCES). Fishes are, and always have been, of great 

 importance as a source of food. A very large number are regu- 

 larly eaten, and it will be most convenient to deal with these 

 in a special chapter. 



MOLLUSCS (MOLLUSCS). Many kinds of shell-fish are used 

 as food, and some of the more important, e.g. the Oyster, will 

 be dealt with separately, 



Cut tie -fishes, Squids, and Octopods (Cephalopoda) are eaten 

 in various parts of the world, particularly by the Chinese and 

 Japanese, while one species (Eledone) is a common article of 

 diet in South Europe, nor is it the only one. 



Of Snails and Slugs (Gastropoda) utilized as food by Euro- 

 peans many examples might be given. The commonest marine 

 form thus employed is probably the Periwinkle (Littorina), and 

 after this come Whelk (Buccinum), Limpet (Patella), and the 

 Ormer or Sea- Ear (Haliotis). But there are many more, and 

 in other parts of the world the list is much larger. The marine 

 slug known as the Sea- Hare (Aplysia) is eaten in the South Sea 

 Islands. 



Land Snails (species of Helix) are largely used on the Con- 

 tinent, and to some extent in Great Britain. 



