first-class cook.
Did he supplement the fresh and tinned meat and so on, with what may be called experiments in natural diet?—Oh yes. One evening we had swealed hedgehog, for example. (Laughter.)
Was it good?—It was delicious. (Laughter.)
“I Never Ate Any Toadstools”
The Coroner : Hedgehog—was that the only unconventional dish you saw prepared?—No. On two or three occasions Mr. Harrison gathered fungi of various kinds and had them for breakfast or supper.
Did these fungi include the ordinary mushroom of commerce?—On one occasion, yes.
Did you eat any of that dish?—I ate a small quantity. I do not care much for mushrooms.
And on the other occasions?—On, I think, two occasions, Mr. Harrison brought in other fungi, which, he explained, were good to eat. A great number of fungi are to be found in the valleys and damp, low-lying spots in the neighbourhood. One variety was called, I believe, Chantarelles, or some such name, and there was also a purple one, called “Amethyst” something-or-other.
These were fungi of a kind not usually eaten by the ordinary person? The sort commonly called toadstools.—Yes; common, wild fungi.
Was the flavour of them agreeable?—I do not know. They smelt very savoury, but I did not eat any of them.
How was that?—I did not think it was safe. I was afraid of eating something poisonous.