FLESH FOOD FEOM MAMMALS. 67 



entirely owing to, was at least greatly ameliorated by 

 the broth and flesh of a dog." * 



" Amongst the Society Islands," says Mr. Frederick 

 Bennet, " the aboriginal dog, which was formerly eaten 

 as a delicacy by the natives, is now extinct or merged 

 into mongrel breeds by propagation with many exotic 

 varieties. At the Sandwich group, where the inhabit- 

 ants have been more remarkable for the use of this 

 animal as food, and where that custom is yet perti- 

 naciously retained, the pure breed of the Poe dog has 

 been better protected, and although becoming yearly 

 more scarce, examples of it are yet to be met with in 

 all the islands, but principally as a delicacy for the use 

 of the chiefs. As late as October, 1835, 1 noticed in the 

 populous and well-civilised town of Honolulu, at Oahu, 

 a skinned dog suspended at the door of a house of enter- 

 tainment for natives, to denote what sumptuous fare 

 might be obtained within." f 



Anson, in his voyage round the world, speaking of 

 Juan Fernandez, says : " These dogs, who are masters of 

 all the accessible parts of the island, are of various kinds, 

 some of them very large, and are multiplied to a prodi- 

 gious degree. They sometimes came down to our habi- 

 tations at night and stole our provisions, and once or 

 twice they set upon single persons ; but assistance being 

 at hand, they were driven ofi" without doing any mis- 

 chief. As at present it is rare for goats to fall in their 

 way, we conceived that they lived principally on young 

 seals ; and indeed some of oiir people had the curiosity 

 to kiU dogs sometimes and dress them, and it seemed to 

 be agreed that they had a fishy taste." 



Foxes as Food. — The flesh of the Arctic fox, particularly 

 when young, is edible, whilst that of the red fox is ill- 

 tasting, -rank, and disagreeable, and eaten only through 

 necessity. Sir John Franklin's party and other Arctic 



* Wilson's " Essays on the Origin and Natural History of 

 Domestic Animals." 



I " Dogs, etc.," by Lieut.-Colonel C. Hamilton Smith, p. 211. 



F 2 



