EGGS OF VARIOUS KINDS AS FOOD. 201 



bury them in their salt bulk for use during the summer. 

 Large quantities are also taken by the people of Con- 

 ception Bay, Trinity Bay, Bonavista Bay, and of St. 

 John's, where they find a ready market, and at the 

 right season, when flesh meats are scarce and dear, they 

 are quite a luxury for the poor. 



In the high northern latitudes sea-fowls' eggs are a 

 valuable article of food. In Greenland about 200,000 

 eggs of aquatic birds are consumed yearly. The eggs 

 of the gannet or Solan goose are obtained for sale at 

 great risk from the rocks, crags, and overhanging preci- 

 pices. 



Collecting the eggs of sea-birds forms a branch of con- 

 siderable industry in many countries. The poor inhabi- 

 tants of the Faroe Isles feed on the eggs of almost all the 

 waterfowl which frequent their shores. The governors 

 of. the Isle of Texel have the exclusive right to all the 

 eggs taken there, and they pay a considerable sum to 

 secure this monopoly. It is asserted that 300 or 400 

 eggs of the silver gull {Larns argentatus) alone are 

 gathered every day. After St. John's Day no more eggs 

 may be taken, the birds being allowed to hatch in peace 

 any they may lay after that period. Naumann says 

 that 50,000 eggs of the large gulls are collected annually 

 in the little island of Sylt, and quite as many of smaller 

 species and of sea-swallows. Among the larger eggs 

 there are at least 10,000 of the silver gull. 



Three men are engaged in collecting these eggs from 

 eight in the morning till late at night. They receive in 

 payment the eggs of all the smaller kinds of birds. 



In the islands of Bass' Straits a large harvest of eggs 

 of the dusky petrel {Puffinus brevicaudis, Brandt) is ob- 

 tained. The bird is called locally the "mutton bird." 

 In shape and colour the eggs resemble those of the duck, 

 but are larger in size, although the bird is smaller. The 

 average weight of the egg is about three and a-half 

 ounces, and the flavour, like that of most sea-birds, is 

 strong. Early in December men, women, and children 

 are engaged in the plunder, and one person will obtain 



