80 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OP DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



the best game animals of Brazil. Its flesh is said to be 

 much esteemed, and forms a staple article of food in 

 many parts of South America. 



The flesh of the guinea pig is white and savoury. It 

 used to be served up at table as a rarity in former 

 times. That of the wild species (Cavia caprera), common 

 in Central America, is very delicate. 



The flesh of the biscacha {Calomys bizcacha), when 

 cooked, is very white and good, but is seldom used, other 

 animal food being so abundant in South America. 



There are a few of the toothless animals (Edentata) 

 which are laid under contribution for food. Wallace 

 tells us he found the flesh of the sloth tender and palat- 

 able ; it is esteemed a great delicacy by the Indians, 

 who hunt the animal for the purposes of food. The 

 echidna, or native porcupine of Australia, which belongs 

 to this order, is said to taste well. 



The flesh of the great anteater {Myrmecophaga jubata) 

 is esteemed a delicacy by the Indians and negroes in 

 Brazil and Western Africa, and though black and of a 

 strong musky flavour, is sometimes even met with at 

 the tables of the Europeans. Feeding largely on the so- 

 called ants' eggs, the flesh of the anteater of Australia is 

 delicate meat, resembling that of a young sucking pig, 

 and is considered superior to hare. 



Most of the varieties of armadillo are used for food in 

 South America. Waterton considered their flesh strong 

 and rank, but throughout the whole of South America 

 roast armadillo is highly esteemed, and may be seen in 

 all the cafes and restaurants of the cities turned on their 

 scaly backs feet uppermost, and the interior filled with a 

 rich sauce composed of lemons and spices. 



Peludos, or armadillos {Basypus sexcinctus), are con- 

 sidered a very dainty dish by the natives and colonists 

 when roasted in their skin, and served up in their shell 

 or case. Mulitas (Z). hybridus) are almost the same as 

 peludos, and have such powerful claws, that if once 

 they get their heads underground it is impossible to 

 pull them out. The flesh of another species, the tatou 



