"Of course, the industrial revolution didn't just bring a flood of people to the cities. The crowded, insanitary conditions were perfect for a whole host of univited guests. One of the most annoying, though for the most part reasonably harmless, was the jam jar lurker. So commonplace was this pest in the typical working class household that most families were in the habit of keeping a partially filled extra jam jar tucked away in the dampest, gloomiest corner of the shelf or cupboard, well away from the family's supply.

     The great city of Porkskreach was notable for having its own sub-species of lurker, commonly known as the Porkskreach squealer. Apart from its unusually large thumbs, its most notable characteristic was the high pitched wailing it would make whenever someone was foolish enough to try ejecting it from its jam …"

Professor Susan Farrington,
"Forty Creatures Noah Missed"