Diary of a Mad Natural Historian

A year ago – to the day! – I posted pictures of my P. caudatum blooming. It may be a day or two ahead of schedule this year – the first flower is completely open – but that’s amazingly consistent response to more daylight.

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She’s been shooting video of tiger sharks:

Man, that’s some clear water. And the pattern on the shark’s back – wow – well done SG!

I was misting the tank a few minutes ago and spotted this guy hopping around the leaf litter. He has to be from the clutch that the male transported back in February – it’s very nice to see the whole thing happening without my involvement. I take it as a sign that I’ve done a decent job with the habitat – yay for world-building!

Straight outta Pembroke (Maine).

Red anemone.

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Larval Old OneSea Cucumber and Chiton.

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Large Hermit Crab.

From last spring’s Derby – came in the mail today. Good girl!

Social insects.

• Six Legs Better – a history of myrmecology.
• The Superorganism – group-level evo strategies.
• Slant – social insects, info theory and echoes of Brunner’s great Stand on Zanzibar.

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Tepuis.

• Lost Worlds of the Guiana Highlands. Outstanding – geology, history, biology and lots of gorgeous pictures.
• Climb to the Lost World – I need to read this. Among other things, it may stop me from thinking ‘Ben Nevis’ as soon as I hear Dr. MacInnes’ name (it’s a hell of a thing to be type-cast).
• The Lost World – the original trip to Maple White Land.

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The Ottoman Empire (and the world to its west).

• The Snake Stone (or The Janissary Tree or The Bellini Card) – great very-late Ottoman mystery.
• The Siege – on it’s way to me from #amazonfail (current events Twitter-joke).
• The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Hurray for the Sultan’s cannons – I want one.

Peepers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Canadas, ducks (Mallards, I think – I lost them in the setting sun), Dinah’s bell and, if you listen closely towards the end, Great Blue Herons.

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Hint for those with dogs – turn the volume down. Dinah is pissed that there are birds and a dog wearing her bell here in the office. Now, if she can just figure out where they are (and why she can’t smell them) there’ll be hell to pay.

This is not at all what I had in mind – but is awesome in a “Holy crap! No, YOU ride it.” kind of way. Via new Cafe (racer) Society -> Krt Schmidt -> Open Bike -> Jonny Pocket’s Blog. Check out the Norton (Manx?) immediately above the BMXer on Jonny’s blog – yowza!