144 ANIMAL FOOD KESOUECES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



frequently served up at table in all the country parts of 

 that Island* Parrots in Australia are in considerable 

 estimation for food. Mr. Gould describes the flesh of 

 the ground parroquet {Pezoporus formosus) as excellent, 

 and much more delicate in flavour than that of the snipe, 

 equalling, if not surpassing, that of the quail. 



Mr. Davidson, in his book " Trade and Travel in the 

 Ear East," tells us that cockatoos make an excellent 

 dish, and that they occasionally furnished part of his 

 dinner when in Australia. 



The bluish flesh of the toco toucan (Bamphastox toco, 

 Gm.), notwithstanding its enormous and unsightly beak, 

 is a wholesome and delicate meat ; and there are no 

 birds that give the epicure a more delicious morsel. It 

 is one of the most omnivorous of birds, and its powers 

 of digestion and impunity to poisons are remarkable. 



Waterton also says the flesh of the large toucan (R. 

 maximus) is delicate. 



Domestic Poultry. — The great Gallinaceous tribe of 

 birds contribute most largely to human subsistence, and 

 all .are esteemed, whether it be the domestic reared 

 fowls, turkeys and guinea fowl, the pheasants, par- 

 tridges, grouse and ptarmigan, or the pigeon tribe. 



It is curious to observe the change of taste that epi- 

 cures have experienced with regard to different birds. 

 Even to-day the tastes of two neighbouring people — the 

 English and the French — are much more Tinlike in this 

 respect than one would imagine. In England, for ex-^ 

 ample, the goose is held in almost as much esteem as the 

 turkey, while across the Channel the former is sold at 

 scarcely half the price of the latter, and is regarded as 

 nothing better than a vulgar dish. But if we compare 

 our present habits with those of seventeen or eighteen 

 centuries ago, the contrast will be much more remarkable 

 stiU. 



To-day we never see a poulterer's shop adorned with 

 rows of peacocks ; and should one of these beautiful birds 



* Brown's " History of Jamaica," 



