160 MAN'S OMNIVEROUS APPETITE. 



Chinaman smacking his lips after a dish of Silk-worm chry- 

 salides ? Shrimp-eaters as we are, why should we stare at the 

 locust-feeding Ethiop or Arab, and why should he who has 

 supped off roasted crabs despise a New Caledonian for 

 seasoning his breakfast with a relish of roasted Spiders ? 



Instead of thanking our stars for our own discriminating 

 taste, let us, then, rather thank Providence for that omnivorous 

 appetite common to our race. Herein let us recognise a dis- 

 tinguished provision by which our brother man, when located 

 in barren lands, or overtaken by accidental scarcity, is enabled 

 to draw supplies from almost every department of nature. 



We only marvel that Gastronomy (than whom even Neces- 

 sity herself can scarcely boast a more numerous progeny of 

 inventions and resources) should not, in the demand of her 

 votaries for new modes, have been led to seek more- frequently 

 for new materiel out of the Insect Kingdom. This, however, 

 may be reserved for some future time. Cockchafers and Chafer 

 grubs may yet become articles for the London spring-market, 

 and Pates de Sauterelles may yet have a place in second courses. 

 The idea is not Utopian, neither is it new ; for Dr. Darwin 

 long ago recommended the former as a delicate addition to the 

 list of entremets, and the Eev. Mr. Shepherd, who himself 

 dared to venture on the thing unknown, pronounced the large 

 Green Grasshopper to be excellent. And why not? Full of 

 sweet vegetable juices, fresh imbibed, and in some cases, as in 

 Aphides, scarcely altered, wherefore should Insects in the shape 



