What's in a Name?
by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw
This week's bird is a parasite - at least that's what its name implies. The dictionary tells us a parasite is something that lives off the work of other creatures and does nothing for them in return. In ancient Greece the term referred to a "professional dinner guest." Both these terms approach the reality of this animal.
Let's look at the scientific name - Stercorarius parasiticus. The first word means "having to do with dung." The second one recites the parasite theme. We're not climbing higher on the popularity scale, are we?
Read full story here
This week's bird is a parasite - at least that's what its name implies. The dictionary tells us a parasite is something that lives off the work of other creatures and does nothing for them in return. In ancient Greece the term referred to a "professional dinner guest." Both these terms approach the reality of this animal.
Let's look at the scientific name - Stercorarius parasiticus. The first word means "having to do with dung." The second one recites the parasite theme. We're not climbing higher on the popularity scale, are we?
Read full story here
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