Andrew Fildes wrote:
> Accepted scientific usage is that a feral animal is an escaped
> domestic animal returned fully to the wild after generations of
> freedom. Introduced pest animals and plants that have never been
> domesticated are termed 'exotic' - thus, we have cattle, camels,
> donkeys, pigs, trout, goldfish, dogs, cats and so on that are feral
> (NOT stray). They return to their original wild appearance too, so a
> feral cat is very large and tabby; a feral goldfish is bronze and
> small, diamond shaped, not orange; a feral pig is small black and
> hairy, ready to be shot and exported to the French as wild boar. On
> the other hand, foxes and blackbirds are exotics.
> Feral is often confused with 'savage' and is a pejorative term. It is
> also used here as a disapproving description of certain people, neo-
> hippies usually, who have gone wild in the woods in warmer parts -
> living on a mixture of dope and welfare. What the English seem to
> call travellers (pseudo-Gypsies).
> Andrew Fildes
> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Good post, Andrew...all encompassing, yet concise. Well done!
Now...not quite off topic:
Being a new member to this particular list, I'm at a loss to determine to what
the "#100" [etc.] in the Subject line refers.
Thanks,
keith whaley
Older Oly owner (in both senses...) <g>
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