RATS AS HUMAN FOOD. 
133 
hunted for public and private consumption ; and thus dic^ 
they disappear by hundreds, never to return. 
If we take a walk across the country to Han well, we shall 
there find a good-looking young man commonly known as 
" Shotty," and who is in partnership with another man living 
at Ealing. These individuals inform me that they are the 
principal sermulot-hunters throughout that part of the 
country ; that is to say, within eight miles round Han well, 
comprising an area of about one hundred and forty-four square 
miles of fertile country, thickly populated with sermulots ; 
yet they cannot live by their legitimate profession. Still, if 
you feel sportively inclined, just venture a shilling, and 
" Shotty" will prepare, fry, and eat a sermulot before your 
eyes, and thank you for the shilling when he has done. 
Indeed, the last time I saw him, he said he only wished he 
could get a shilling each for all he had eaten, that then he 
would leave off work, and set up as gentleman for the rest 
of his life. 
Now I should like to learn what just charge there is to 
be preferred against the flesh of the barn-sermulot more 
than against the flesh of hares, rabbits, pheasants, and 
partridges. They eat the farmer s corn, and what more 
wholesome feeding can anything have? and as to their 
domestic habits of cleanliness, they stand second to none. 
And though my own stomach has its loathings and misgiv- 
ings, still that argues nothing but prejudice and antipathy. 
ISTevertheless I am fully satisfied, in despite of every 
weakness, that to those who can like them, and eat them 
with a relish, they will prove not only wholesome, but a 
cheap and nutritious meal. 
The great question at issue appears not as to the propriety 
or utility of introducing cooked sermulots, either at public or 
private entertainments, but as to how far their flesh may be 
wholesome or unwholesome as food for the human stomach. 
In addition to about one half of the human family, we find 
that birds of the eagle, owl, and falcon tribes, as well as all 
kinds of carnivorous animals, eagerly pounce upon the ser- 
mulot, when they can do it with safety, and eat it with the 
utmost relish and avidity. Pigs, pike, poultry, and the 
larger eels, will eagerly regale themselves with sermulots 
when an opportunity offers. Still I never in my life 
