Notices of New Books. 4061 



ing; this was better: and one at five minutes was better still; but not 

 so good as one which had boiled ten. I then put the remaining ones 

 into boiling water, and let them remain over the fire boiling fast for 

 ten minutes, and these were the best of all, being more tender, as well 

 as of a more inviting appearance. 



" I must confess that the first bit I essayed caused a sort of lumpy 

 feeling in my throat, as if a sentinel there guarded the way, and said 

 ' It shan't come here.' This sensation, however, I felt to be unworthy 

 of a philosopher, for there was nothing really repugnant in the taste. 

 As soon as I had got one that seemed well cooked, I invited Mrs. G. 

 to share the feast ; she courageously attacked the morsel, but I am 

 compelled to confess it could not pass the vestibule ; the sentinel was 

 too many for her. My little boy, however, voted that ' 'tinny was 

 good,' and that c he liked 'tinny,' and loudly demanded more, like ano- 

 ther Oliver Twist. As for me, I proved the truth of the adage, — Ce 

 rfest que le premier pas qui coute ; for my sentinel was cowed after 

 the first defeat. I left little in the dish. 



" In truth the flavour and taste are agreeable, somewhat like those 

 of the soft parts of crab ; I ate them hot, with the usual crab-condi- 

 ments of salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar, mixed into a sauce. The 

 internal parts, including the ovaries and the tentacles, though from 

 their mottled appearance rather repelling to the eye, were the most 

 agreeable in taste ; the integuments somewhat reminded me of the 

 jelly-like skin of a calf's head. I wonder they are not commonly 

 brought to table, for they are easily procured, and are certainly far 

 superior to cockles, periwinkles, and mussels. After a very little use, 

 I am persuaded any one would get very fond of boiled Actinias. 



"Some I had left with a little of the gravel still adhering, in order to 

 see whether this would be thrown off, when life departed ; but it was 

 not so. They should be cleansed before cooking, which can be easily 

 and quickly done with the fingers under water : the base also should 

 be scraped, so as to remove any bits of slate, or rock, or dirt, that ad- 

 here to it. Attention to these particulars greatly improves the appear- 

 ance when cooked. They are of a pellucid rosy hue, of a firm consis- 

 tence ; at least sufficiently firm to be readily cut with a knife. 



" The next that I tried were prepared in a different manner, and, 

 truth to say, the experiment was far more successful this time. I 

 cleansed them more perfectly, carefully scraping the bases, until they 

 were freed from every particle of extraneous matter and from slime. 

 These I had fried in egg and bread-crumbs, and they were very far 

 superior to even the best on the former occasion. All prejudice 



