194 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



furze-blossom or "whin bloom." They are variously 

 decorated and inscribed by the simple process of mark- 

 ing them when hot with the end of a tallow candle, 

 and then steeping them with cochineal or some other 

 attractive dye. When elaborately designed or engraved, 

 the " Pace eggs " in old English times were preserved in 

 a deep long-stemmed ale glass, and kept in the family 

 corner cupboard as love relics or toys for the children. 

 At any rate, the religious significance of the Easter 

 ^jegg in its connection with the deliverance from the 

 Deluge, the departure from Egypt, the Passover, and 

 the Resurrection, was soon lost sight of in Old Eng- 

 land, for the boys used them as they do cob-nuts in 

 Wiltshire " to try the conqueror," the winning egg by 

 reason of hardness of shell over many smashed com- 

 panions being considered by the boys of the village a 

 famous tough customer, and accordingly a valued prize. 



The custom of giving Easter eggs to one's relations 

 and friends is a very old one in France, and there is no 

 fear of the usage dying out. But it has risen into an 

 expensive matter, for the imitation eggs are now of the 

 costliest kind, and made to contain all sorts of fancy 

 presents. 



In 1533, an Archbishop of Paris, authorised bj'- a bull 

 from Pope Julius III., being disposed to permit the use 

 of eggs during Lent, the Parliament took offence and 

 prevented the execution of the episcopal mandate. It 

 is this severe abstinence from eggs during Lent which 

 gave rise to the custom of having a great number of 

 them blessed on Easter Eve to be distributed among 

 friends on Easter Sunday, whence comes the expression 

 " to give Easter eggs." Pyramids of them were carried 

 into the king's cabinet after high mass. They were 

 gilded, or admirably painted, and the prince made 

 presents of them to his courtiers. 



The origin of these Easter eggs is said to have sprung 

 from the fact that during several centuries no permis- 

 sion could be obtained from the clergy to eat eggs during 

 Holy Week. The rigid observance of that season pro- 



