Spencer Heath Archive

Item 3124

Quotation from Ambrose Bierce in Atlantic Monthly, July 1937, page 40.

Philosopher — I’ve been thinking of the popoco.

Fool — So have I. What is it?

Philosopher — The popoco is a small Brazilian animal, chiefly remarkable for its singularity of diet. A popoco eats nothing but other popocos. As these are not easily obtained, the annual mortality from starvation is very great. As a result there are fewer mouths to feed, and by consequence the race is rapidly multiplying.

Fool — From whom had you this?

Philosopher — A professor of political economy.

Fool — Let us rise and uncover.