11 
need. The natives are passionately fond of these little luxuries 
of the bush and spend hours collecting the same. To eat the 
honey, the ant is grasped by the head, the abdominal portion 
placed between the lips, and the contents squeezed into the mouth 
and swallowed. To the palate the first sensation is that of a 
distinct taste of formic acid, which no doubt is excreted by the 
ant asa natural protection. This taste is, however, slight and 
momentary, and upon bursting the membrane a recognition of 
the taste of rich honey follows. 
Eggs of birds, large or small, and of some lizards, whether 
they be fresh or partly developed, are gathered wherever 
opportunity is afforded. Emu eggs are relished; these are 
cooked as follows: A hole is made in the sand big enough to 
receive the required number, which, after being pierced at the 
end, are placed aperture upwards in the hole, the intervening 
Spaces being filled up with hot ashes and sand. 
Landsnails, “ pira,” live in the vicinity of the north-western 
ranges, and, after a shower of rain, very many can be collected 
in a short time by the black residents, who roast and eat them. 
Consequently, accumulations of empty shells of these molluscs are 
frequently found, thickly strewn about the fire places of deserted 
camps. The most common snail thus treated is the large Helix 
perinflata, 
Cooking.—As regards the cooking of the various articles of diet 
mentioned above: Game, such as kangaroo, is cooked whole. 
The skin is not detached, and the bony paws may, or may not, 
be removed beforehand in order to secure the sinews for future 
use.* The carcase is laid upon its back, completely covered with 
hot ashes and sand, and thus permitted to cook. When 
sufficiently, which often means only partly, cooked the skin can 
easily be removed and the meat appears tender and juicy. The 
belly is cut open, and by groping about with the hand the 
intestines are removed; this, after its contents have been 
Squeezed out with the aid of two fingers, is distributed among 
the less privileged members of the tribe. The body is next torn 
to pieces with their hands and the parts distributed to all mem- 
bers having a right to such (the biggest piece usually remaining 
for the man who divides the meat). Most of the bones, if 
not crushed between the jaws, are shattered by means of the 
grinding-stone (* miri ”) and the marrow eaten. 
Grubs and caterpillars are merely thrown upon hot ashes to 
roast; the latter, however, are permitted to remain there a very 
short time only, and are eaten almost raw ; in doing so the green 
juice can be seen running down either side of the native's mouth. 
* When cooking the bigger game I noticed that the bones of the hind 
legs (deprived of the paws) are made to project slightly above the sand. 
t Compare Baldwin Spencer, op. cit., page 94. 
B 
