212 UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 
consider its flesh a first-rate dainty, superior even to beef, which 
is the greatest compliment they can pay to any food. According 
to Bennett, the blacks near the Wollondilly and Yas rivers in 
New South Wales have a different taste, and are very partial 
to Ornithorhynchus.” The Pouched Mammals (Marsupiatia) of 
Australia have naturally been largely eaten by the natives, and 
the Kangaroo, at any rate, is decidedly palatable. Semon says 
of it, in the work just quoted:—‘ The muscular tail of the 
kangaroo furnishes a delicious soup, and its flesh is not to be 
despised ”. 
Floofed Mammals (Ungulata), especially Ruminants, are more 
important than any others as a source of food, and this is the 
primary reason why they have been so largely domesticated. 
Elephants (Pvodosczdea) have been in times past of great im- 
portance to the African larder. Sir Samuel Baker remarks (in 
Wild Beasts and their Ways):—‘ There is no animal that is 
more persistently pursued than the elephant, as it affords food in 
wholesale supply to the Africans, who consume its flesh, while 
the hide is valuable for shields; the fat when boiled is highly 
esteemed by the natives, and the ivory is of extreme value. 
No portion of the animal is wasted in Africa, although in Ceylon 
the elephant is considered worthless, and is allowed to rot 
uselessly upon the ground where it fell to die.” Of Guawing 
Mammats (Rodentia), Hares and Rabbits have always been most 
esteemed, while /usect-eating Mammals ({nsectivora) are of no 
particular importance, though gipsies appear to relish the Hedge- 
hog (Zrznaceus). The related Bats (Chzroptera) are not in much 
favour, but Fruit-bats (Pteropus) are eaten by the Malays. 
flesh-eating Mammals (Carnivora) inhabiting the land are 
less useful as a source of food than most other Mammals, though 
the omnivorous Bears, and to some extent Dogs, must be ex- 
cepted. It would appear, in some cases at least, to be a 
matter of prejudice. Wallace found Jaguar steaks good eating, 
and this suggested to him the following remarks:—“ It appears 
evident to me that the common idea of the food of an animal 
determining the quality of its meat is quite erroneous. Domestic 
poultry and pigs are the most unclean animals in their food, yet 
their flesh is highly esteemed, while field-rats .and squirrels, 
which eat only vegetable food, are in general disrepute.” There 
can be no doubt that the Cat is good eating, and, under numerous 
