VERMIN 183 



question of vermin in this country, hold 

 a court of justice before which we shall 

 summon all supposed offenders, duly 

 weigh evidence, both for and against the 

 accused, and pronounce judgment, not, 

 indeed, tempered by mercy for proved 

 vermin must be placed beyond the pale 

 yet, we will trust, equally untainted by 

 prejudice. 



If we deal with our suspects in order, 

 according to the gravity of the charge 

 presented against them, few will deny 

 the common brown rat priority of place 

 over all comers. Since, under the more 

 humane influences of modern legislation, 

 the horrors of the rat-pit were abolished, 

 and live rats ceased to fetch 3s. a dozen 

 in the open market, the rat cannot be 

 said to have a single friend left in the 

 world. His crimes are legion and his 

 omnivorous voracity beyond all belief: 

 he destroys untold quantities of grain in 

 the stackyard, while he will tear the very 

 nails and skin off the elephants' feet at 

 the Zoo ; he will eat a turnip or a five- 



