CANNIBALISM. 47g 



as soon as absolute hunger forced them to do so. Of this there are 

 many well authenticated instances, by which we clearly perceive that 

 hunger alone has been the real incentive. For example, confine a 

 dozen Hanoverian rats (animals so notorious for living on other 

 people's means) in a large cage replete with provisions, when the 

 last morsel of these provisions has been consumed, then the stronger 

 will eat up the weaker. Even in this case it would be absolute 

 necessity, and not depravity, which compelled them to feed upon 

 each other, for, as the saying has it, " Necessity knows no law." 



On the contrary, whilst rats are in the full enjoyment of their 

 liberty, they are not known to prey upon each other. Their super- 

 lative knack of fending for themselves would always prevent the 

 necessity for mutual destruction. Whilst I am on the subject of 

 rats, although I freely concede to these able friends of mine a vast 

 supply of brain to manage their own affairs, still I cannot believe 

 the following instance of their sagacity. A farmer, in this neigh- 

 bourhood, once declared to me that he had seen an old ratten in 

 the act of conducting a blind one along the king's highway. A 

 straw, held in their mouths, was the conducting medium betwixt the 

 blind rat and the rat which had the use of its eyes. This happened 

 during the night when the full moon shone brightly. But, on my ask- 

 ing the farmer how he had contrived to approach these two intelligent 

 travellers sufficiently near to distinguish that one of them was blind, 

 his answer did not satisfy me ; so I dropped the subject after he had 

 informed me that the scene took place on the night of the market- 

 day. He liked his glass of rum and water. No doubt but that the 

 contents of it had caused this jovial son of Ceres to see double. 



The fox and the dog are so nearly allied to each other that their 

 union is known to produce issue. But although the dog will worry 

 the fox, and even eat him occasionally, this is no proof that dogs will 

 naturally feed on foxes. I adduce the chase. A pack of hounds, 

 urged on by men in scarlet liveries, and closely followed by a group 

 of horsemen, soon start old Reynard from his lone retreat. In an 

 instant all rush forward. The hounds give mouth and follow up the 

 scent. Poor Reynard's arts avail him nothing. " His feet betray his 

 flight." The hounds rush in upon him, followed by the joyful hunts- 

 man. In an instant Reynard dies, and his mangled remains are 



