406 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



In Algeria large heaps of snails are sold by the 

 bushel and the hundred, in the markets, as an article 

 of food. They are also carried about for sale in the 

 streets of Cairo, and are occasionally eaten in Syria. 

 The Greeks feed principally upon them during Lent. 



The snail (Selix pomatia) is used as food by some of 

 the European residents in Chili. Within thirty years 

 past it has become so acclimatised and is so prolific that 

 in some vineyards it causes such damage that means are 

 taken to destroy it utterly. 



For various, recipes and modes of cooking and serving 

 up snails, I may refer the reader to Dr. Ebrard's work 

 on " Les Escargots," or to the popular work of Mr. S. 

 Lovell, " On the Edible MoUusks of Great Britain and 

 Ireland" (London: Eeeve and Co., 1867). 



Marine MoUusks. — The marine edible moUusks have 

 been popularly treated of in the pleasantly written work 

 just named, published some fourteen years ago, at least 

 as far as relates to the British species ; and a former 

 work of mine, on " The Curiosities of Food," has been 

 largely drawn on by the author. However, there is much 

 still to be said on this subject, especially the more 

 extensive use made of mollusks for food in foreign 

 countries. We may range them under the two heads of 

 univalves and bivalves, and will take the former first, 

 although they are the least important. 



Among the marine Univalves, the animals of which are 

 eaten as food, we find" whelks, limpets, periwinkles, and 

 the ormer, or ear-shell (Saliotis sp.) 



Limpets (Patella vulgata), and species of Acmcea, are 

 rather leathery and not of an agreeable appearance, but 

 it is said they can be rendered palatable by boiling, then 

 salting, adding spices, and after removrag the salt, 

 placing them in olive oil, and thus we are agreeably 

 surprised to find a delicious hors d'ceuvre which has lost 

 much of its toughness. 



Although used by the ancients as an article of food, 

 the limpet is seldom brought to market in this country. 

 Among the villages along the coasts of Scotland this 



