142 MARVELS OP THE ANIMAL WORLD 



also in China, after the silk has been wound off from 

 the cocoons which surround them. 



The eating of snails and frogs is quite a common 

 practice hi some countries at the present day, and 

 the former creatures were much esteemed as an 

 article of diet by the ancient Romans who fattened 

 them upon bran which had been soaked in wine. 

 The edible frog is found throughout the greater 

 part of Europe, and also in North -West Africa and 

 West Asia, but in the British Isles its distribution 

 is now confined to Norfolk, although formerly it 

 was plentiful in Cambridgeshire. According to 

 Mr. E. G. Boulenger, no less than 80,000 francs 

 are spent by the populace of Paris upon these 

 dainties during the course of a year ; the best kind 

 coming from the Department of Vend6e, where 

 miles of ditches have been dug for their accommoda- 

 tion. The common frog is used also as food by 

 the Parisians. 



We are all of us familiar with the prettily -coloured 

 and translucent jellies which tempt our jaded 

 appetites towards the end of a meal, and are 

 probably under the impression that they are pre- 

 pared from isinglass or from the gelatine obtained by 

 boiling down the feet of cows and calves. Although 

 in the majority of cases we may be quite correct 

 in regard to our supposition, yet it is as well to bear 

 in mind that not all jellies are made therefrom, for 

 a great deal of inferior gelatine is extracted from 

 such items as parchment shavings, bones, and hide 

 clippings ; while ivory dust also forms a basis from 

 which that dish can be prepared. 



