434 ANIMAL FOOD RESOURCES OF DIFFERENT NATIONS. 



mollusks that are much known or eaten in the interior 

 of France are the oyster and the mussel. Formerly the 

 oyster was within the reach o£ the most humble, but 

 now it is only available for the rich, or for extraordinary 

 repasts. 



Several species of Pinna or wing-shell are eaten, more 

 especially in the Mediterranean. As an article of food 

 the animal is said to be nearly as good as the scallops, 

 and it is mentioned as forming one of the dishes at an 

 Attic banquet — 



And Pinnas sweet and cockles fat were there, 

 Which the wave breeds beneath its weedy bed. 



It seems to have been a favourite article of food among 

 the ancients, and was as highly prized by them as it is 

 at Naples in these days, where it is considered a rechercM 

 morsel and too expensive for the poor people to indulge 

 in. The Pinnas are cooked at Naples with pepper, oil, 

 and lemon juice, and served with baked prunes. They 

 are also fried like cutlets, and made into soup. 



In the Adriatic a great many more species of mollusks 

 are eaten as food than in this country, both by poor and 

 rich. Among the gasteropods may be mentioned Murex 

 brandaris and M. trunculus, known as " bulbs," and also 

 under the name of " garusola," which are met with all the 

 year round in the markets, and form a large portion of 

 the food of the poor. The white colour of the flesh turns 

 green after being kept for some time, and when exposed 

 to the light it gives a fine red purple, from which the 

 ancients obtained their celebrated Tyrian purple. 



Chenopus pes-pelicani is also much appreciated as food 

 by the poor. It is known under the common name of 

 " zumarugola." Cerithium imlgatum is also frequently met 

 with in the markets, as well as Turbo rugosus, Trochiis 

 fragarioides, Lin., Trochus albidus, Trochus cinerarius, Lam., 

 thsurella costaria, Desh., and Bulla hydatis. The flesh of 

 the last is delicate, although not often eaten. 



Among the acephalopods which furnish food may be 

 named Pfwlas dactylus, already alluded to, which is very 

 good, eating; the ship- worm {Teredo navalis), well tasted, 



