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Show Strange Food. According to a writer In the Scientific American, perhaps the most singular food for human bclnga is the larvae of a fly which Is common In parts of California. This Insect Is found in such vast quantities quanti-ties in Lake Mono that It Is washed upon tho shores In vast windrows and can bo collected by bushels. Tho water of Mono Is very singular, seemingly heavy and smooth llko oil; so much so that It resists ordinary wind and rofuses to become ruffled. ruf-fled. When tho larvao begin- to appear Indians gather from far and near and scrape them up, place the worm-llko creatures crea-tures on cloths and racks In the sun and dry them, when they are beaten up and husked, looking like rice. Tho Indians call tho food "kooh-chah-bco," and many bushels aro collected at this tlmo. That larvae aro nutritious Is shown by tho condition con-dition of the Indians, who soon grow fat on the rich diot. On Lako Texcoco in Mexico a curious fly Is found which is eaten by the natives and Is known as "ahuatl." Tho eggs of the Insect, which arc deposited on sedges, aro also collected and eaten. On Lake Chalco a certain sedge Is cultivated on which tho eggs of a certain fly aro deposited. depos-ited. Bundles are made of these and put lu Lako Texcoco for the purpose and, when covered, tho sedgo is beaten over nieces of cloth and tho eggs aro secured. Theso are collected and gTouhd Into meal, also called "ahuatl." and aro In great do-mand do-mand on fast days, when flah Is required, the Insects or eggs not being considered flesh, as they come from tho water. Tho food Is mado Into small cakes and tastes not unlike caviare. In Arizona Indian children may bo seen gathering ants and eating them, and In Mexico tho honey ant is eagerly sought after by tho natives, who cot tho wwll-rounded, wwll-rounded, currant-liko abdomen. In South America tho largo lizard, the lguano. Is a delicacy, not 10 speak of the larger snakes which In tasto are like chicken. Tho ordinary or-dinary rattlesnake. It 'Is said, Is very good eating If one can overcomo tho Inborn prejudice. Chicago News. |