Just for fun

[Guest guest]

*Dear colleagues,*

* All battles and dramas have periods of

intermission and since the battle over elephant polo started with a news

item posted by yours truly on October 8 last year, I feel we need some

relief to recharge our batteries. So this is just for fun:*

*A TENTH CENTURY CHINESE CLASSIFICATION OF THE ANIMAL WORLD*

*1) Those Belonging to the Emperor*

*2)Embalmed*

*3)Tame*

*4)Suckling pigs*

*5)Sirens*

*6) Fabulous*

*7)Stray dogs*

*8) Included in the Present Classification*

*9)Frenzied*

*10)Innumerable*

*11)Drawn with a Very Fine Camelhair Brush*

*12)Et cetera*

*13)Having Just Broken the Water Pitcher*

*and*

* 14) That From a Long Way Off Look Like Flies.*

* Tai Ping Kuang Chi, AD 981, quoted by Richard Mabey in The Oxford Book of

Nature Writing.*

* Cheers,*

**

* *