Now THIS is a walking stick!

Dusza Beben Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:55 am

Walking Stick

DB

The Kernel Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:06 pm

Not just a walking stick ut a stick that walks!

Rowan of Rin Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:06 pm

Fantastic!

"..Malaysian amateur naturalist". I wonder, what is the call for naturalists these days, it is sort of a dream job for me. Anyone know any naturalists?

Mad Miss Holmes Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:32 pm

That is an entomologist's dream, and my mother's nightmare! xD I'd dearly love to leave that in the bath tub for her one of these days.

Rowan: I know three naturalists, but I'm afraid that they all agree it's a profession that makes absolutely no bread. In fact, two of them are only able to pursue it because they are rather obscenely wealthy by inheritance. The third simply lives as a pauper. Far better, I think, to pursue it as a hobby than as a career. Unless, of course, you can manage to insert yourself into prestigious scientific circles and perhaps go to work in a museum.

CaptZaphod Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:36 pm

The movie "Them" comes to mind.

It's just too darn big.

Rowan of Rin Sat Oct 18, 2008 1:39 am

Mad Miss Holmes wrote:That is an entomologist's dream, and my mother's nightmare! xD I'd dearly love to leave that in the bath tub for her one of these days.

Rowan: I know three naturalists, but I'm afraid that they all agree it's a profession that makes absolutely no bread. In fact, two of them are only able to pursue it because they are rather obscenely wealthy by inheritance. The third simply lives as a pauper. Far better, I think, to pursue it as a hobby than as a career. Unless, of course, you can manage to insert yourself into prestigious scientific circles and perhaps go to work in a museum.

Oh, where have the days gone when being a naturalist was the most prestigious career? Still, I am heartened that their are some still around. I am studying biology next year, so perhaps if I insert myself that way...

von Corax Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:12 am

Dusza Beben wrote:Walking Stick

The Kernel wrote:Not just a walking stick ut a stick that walks!

Most impressive, and (at 22 inches) rather larger than the 10-cm-or-so specimens I occasionally find wandering the Institute's parklands.

As I recall, the walking-stick is close kin to the Praying Mantis, for those unfamiliar with the beast.

The Kernel Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:12 pm

Rowan of Rin wrote:Fantastic!

"..Malaysian amateur naturalist". I wonder, what is the call for naturalists these days, it is sort of a dream job for me. Anyone know any naturalists?

I really must pay better attention - I read that as "naturist" - which alters the meaning somewhat (especially if viewed as a career!)

Prof Eumides Blakehurst Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:32 am

Yay for these!

The biggest Australian ones are 12-14 inches long and they're impressive enough, though they eat a huge amount of greenery to be kept as a casual pet...

Rowan, read all the Gerald Durrell books, and all the David Attenborough books, and do natural history as a hobby. Even if you score a job at the Australian Museum or CSIRO Entomology/ANIC, you wont be a full time naturalist. See me after class ofr more info! Smile