THE EDIBLE LAND SNAILS. 701 



coming autumn. A Oalifornian species {Mssurella aculeata) was usea as money by some of the 

 native red men of the coast. 



In respect to the odd pill-bug-like shells of the several species of Chiton of our eastern 

 shore I can say nothing; but in Bermuda a larger Chiton is gathered for soup, and the broth is 

 said to be very good. The Bermudans also make use of that Chiton as a bait with which to take 

 the large lobsters of the island, themselves intended to act as bait for fishes. 



The sea surrounding Bermuda is of great transparency, and the fishermen can readily discern 

 the long horns of the lobster protruding from his hiding place amorig the rocks, at a considerable 

 depth. The only plan by which they can get him, however, is to entice him out of his refuge. 

 To do this they mat together a quantity of Chitons until they have formed a ball several inches in 

 diameter. To this they attach a string, and — having previously baited the bottom in front of the 

 lobster's den and left him to enjoy it until his confidence was captured — let the ball dangle before 

 his nose. Thinking this only a larger tidbit, he seizes it, and, to his amazement, is swiftly drawn 

 up to daylight and torn to pieces to form a lure for equally unwary fishes. 



" These shells have been called by different names, all, however, indicative of their form, such 

 as ' Wood-louse,' < Sea-boat,' ' Rattle-snake's Tail,' ' Lobster's Tail,' ' Sea- bug,' and ' Sea-caterpillar.' 

 The French say that the animal may be eaten, and we are told that the Iceland fishers swallow it 

 raw to quench thirst, and pretend that it is good, also, against sea-sickness." The American 

 Indians of the Northwest coast, South Sea Islanders, and other savages find the Chiton acceptable 

 as food. 



In Melamprus bidentatus we have a small shell which swarms upon the mud and among the 

 eel-grass, affording food to many fishes and acting as a scavenger of the marshes. In addition to 

 this, it has a place in these remarks because it belongs to the division of air-breathing mollusks, 

 and introduces not only the fresh- water shells Idmnea, Fhysa, Planorbis, etc.. that feed the inland 

 fishes, but also the edible land Snails. To these latter interesting mollusks I lately devoted a 

 chapter in my "Friends Worth Knowing,"' from which I quote whatever applies to the present 

 purpose: 



" Snails, being great eaters, meet their just reward in being eaten. The paludine forms are 

 sought after by all sorts of water birds, particularly ducks and rails; while the thrushes and 

 other birds crush the shells of the land Snails and extract their juicy bodies. The woodland 

 birds, however, will not eat the naked-bodied Slugs : the slime sticks to their beaks and soils their 

 feathers; but the ducks seem to have no such dainty prejudices. Some mammals, like the 

 raccoons and wood-rats, also eat them ; insects suck their juices, and the carnivorous Slugs prey 

 upon one another. Lastly, man, the greatest enemy of the brute creation, employs several species 

 of Snails for culinary purposes. By the Eomans they were esteemed a great luxury, and portions 

 of plantations were set apart for the cultivation of the large, edible Helix pomatia, where they 

 were fattened by the thousand upon bran sodden in wine. From Italy this taste spread throughout 

 the Old World, and colonies of this exotic species, survivors of classical 'preserves,' are yet found 

 in Great Britain whe:' *^"e Roman encampments were. They are still regarded as a delicacy 

 in Italy and France, the favorite method of preparation being to boil in milk, with plenteous 

 seasoning. Frank Buckland says that several of the larger English species are excellent food for 

 hungry people, and recommends them either boiled in milk, or, in winter, raw, after soaking for 

 an hour in salt and water. Some of the French restaurants in London have them placed regularly 

 upon their bills of fare. Thousands are collected annually and sent to London as food for 

 cage-birds. Dr. Edward Gray stated, a few years ago, that immense quantities were shipped 



'Harper and Brothers, New York, 1880. 



