170 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



the remainder to the kitchen. The goose had its praises 

 sung by Homer, and it was the favourite dish o£ the 

 Egyptian monarchs. A sentiment of gratitude endeared 

 them to the Romans, as by their noisy clamour they had 

 formerly saved the capitol, and they were reared both 

 in town and country to guard the house. At the 

 anniversary of the deliverance of the capitol from the 

 'Gauls, the Roman people regaled themselves with boiled 

 dog. At this solemnity a goose, laid on a soft cushion, 

 was carried in triumph, followed by an unhappy dog 

 nailed to a cross, whose loud cries amused the populace ; 

 thus they commemorated the signal service rendered by 

 one animal, and the fatal negligence of the other. But 

 time effaces the impression of gratitude, and for a cen- 

 tury at least before the time of Pliny, the Romans had 

 learned to eat goose ; and by a perfidious art they 

 fattened them delicately in darkness in preparation for 

 the spit. ' The most luxurious eaters, however, valued 

 only the liver, and this they contrived to increase to 

 such a size that it often weighed over two pounds. 

 Pliny says that Apicius found means to increase the 

 livers to a size almost equalling in weight the whole 

 body of the bird. 



The modern gastronome will see, therefore, that it is 

 to the Romans he owes these table luxuries of our day. 

 Thus Horace says — 



"Pinguibus et picis pastum jecur anseris albi." 



Goose is eaten in England on Michaelmas Day, 

 because, says report. Queen Elizabeth was dining on 

 goose when the news was brought her of the defeat of 

 the Spanish Armada. 



According to the latest statistics there are in France 

 3,600,500 ducks, worth, at 3 fr. each, 10,801,500 fr. 

 From these there are sold for food 1,720,100 ducks at 

 3 fr., equal to 2,160,300 fr. ; 2,860,000 drakes, castrated, 

 at 3 fr., equal to 1,080,000 fr. The 3,600,500 ducks will 

 produce 10,000,000 ducklings in the year, from which 

 2,000,000 will be.-set aside for reproducing, and 2,000,000 



