The sea-side book; being an introduction to the natural history of the British coasts / By W.H. Harvey.

  • William H. Harvey
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sea-side book; being an introduction to the natural history of the British coasts / By W.H. Harvey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Shell-drake, but the bill wants the strong hook at the extremity. It frequents the sea-shore in many places, often in considerable numbers, and feeds on small shell- fish and other molluscous animals. The flesh is oily, with a strong fishy taste, and thus “ being identified with fish, it is allowed by the Romish Church to be eaten in Lent and on fast-days; and so great is the demand for it, that many devices are in use on the sea- coasts of [Roman] Catholic countries to obtain these ducks for the use of the table.” * Mr. Yarrell, from • The statement here given, on the authority of Mr. Yarrell, is, I have been recently informed, much too broad and unqualified. There is no general ride of the Roman Church on this subject, but in certain localities old customs of this nature have long prevailed, which are permitted, but not enjoined. That the Barnacle was fonnerly eaten in Ireland on fast days as fish, and that it may still be so used in some remote parts of the island, is a common opinion ; and a learned friend has pointed out to me a curious passage, to be found in an old Dutch book of travels in Europe, “ Zeer gedenkwaardige en naan- keurige historische Reis-beschrijvinge door Vrankrijk, Spangie, Ita- lien, Duitsland, Engeland, Holland en Moscovien, p. 445,” published at Leyden in 1700, of which there is a copy in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, to the following effect. Speaking of Ireland, the author says, “ There are also many other animals, among which may be remarked a sort of bird out of the marshes, called Barnacles, which are produced in a wonderful manner. For they have neither father nor mother, nor come forth out of any eggs, but out of the gum of the fir-trees, which are common on the sea-shore. They are seen first to open the mouth, afterwards to move the body, and as soon as they feel themselves loose, fly into the air, or plunge into the water of the marshes. The clerg)- and ecclesiastics of the kingdom eat of these animals in the fasts, and give out that they are not produced from flesh of any kind.” In making these remarks I wish distinctly to say, that nothing is farther from my thought, or would give mo