The Seven Deadly Sinners

Bug Update

The bugs have now apparently filled up the trees so they are flying  around and looking for love. 

When they land on you they have sharp little claws good for clinging to narrow twigs. 

Here's a mutant one.

Magicicada!

 My favorite cousin writes from Cape Cod:

It happens every 17 years.

First there are 3/4 inch holes in the ground.  Lots of them.

Then these huge tan bugs start showing up everywhere.

Then they molt and turn black with red eyes.  They are 2 inches long.

There are millions of them.  During the day they call to each other. Really loudly.  Like the sound alien saucers make in old movies.

Did I mention that the noise is REALLY LOUD.  Fortunately they don't scream at night. 

Unfortunately they think the day starts at 4 am.

They have been here for over a week.  Every day there are more of them and they get louder, up to 100 db.  They are clearly breaking the law.

They don't eat (although the birds, squirrels and local dogs are enjoying the crunchy treats) and they don't do much long term damage, just mate and die.  They are just really really annoying.  I want them to go away now.

Medusa Jellyfish Lamp

Amazing jellyfish lamp by Timothy Horn (via Neatorama)

And for more jellyfish fun, porcelain jellyfish are here.

The Amazing Puffing/Flattening Owl

As seen on TV in Japan, the white faced scops owl puffs or shrinks depending on circumstances.

Thanks, Kamala!

Antique Patent Art

Found on ebay today: fascinating art prints of old patent sketches. Seen here:

Vincent Valentine Water Pistol Patent 1955

Patricia Morehouse Brassiere Patent 1962

Oresto J. Parco Woman's Buddy Patent 1970*

Anthony Bird Cage And Smoking Stand 1941

PENTECOSTAL CHURCH GOD Amusement Riding Children 1961

Mary Menzies Reducing Garment Patent 1965

*Note: "Woman's Buddy" image is modified to fit this graphic

Embroidered Anomalocaris bag

Not a Triops, but an interesting beast nonetheless, and not something you see every day.

Ok, maybe not something you see every day. We have an Anomalocaris coffee mug from the Royal Tyrrell Museum Gift Shop. We likes our Cambrian Critters here in Chez Bagley.

For sale on Etsy, the description is as follows: These Anomalocaris are ready to swim strait through millions of years of evolution just to protect your gadget! Once thought to be a weird side branch to the animal kingdom, these long extinct creatures are now known to be relatives of the primitive arthropods and trilobites.

Of course, no one knows what they really looked like, but my best guess has been embroidered by hand onto imported green felt. The bag is lined with soft cotton, and closes with a vintage button. It measures 4 inches by 2.5 inches.

Triops!

Kamala writes:

An old friend got some Triops recently- she says "Triops are 3 eyed prehistoric cannibal fish with exoskeletons and their species has not changed at all in 200 million years... They come as eggs in a sort of suspended animation until you put them in water with nutrients and feed them. They rule. Much better than Sea Monkeys who don't wear crowns and eat dinner at a table like the picture on the packet would have you believe."

They came from here.

Image grabbed from this site.

I want some!

Bedbug Murder

Kills bedbugs, moths and fleas. You can buy the label, if not the product...hopefully you don't need the product.

Frog Products

This fine pincushion in the shape of a dissected frog comes to you via Etsy seller pixiefashions.

As she points out, "Remember high school science? Remember the day you had to dissect a frog? Now apparently they use computers but if you are still craving that dissected frog feeling why not try out Pixiefashions dissected frog pin cushion. Now you can have fun sticking pins in your frogs vital organs without all the sticky icky mess."

If you must have the real thing, there's always the Frog Dissection Kit, "complete with all the tools you need to dissect the vacuum-sealed formaldehyde treated frog, a tray and a guide to help you identify your handiwork", from Jack Spade.

2008 is the Year of the Frog; decide at your own risk which of these gifts you'd like to put under your favorite herpetologist's tree.

Insanely Fantastic Old Medical Charts

You wait long enough and eventually everything you ever dreamed of owning will show up on ebay. Here is someone who has unearthed some beautiful vintage German Educational Charts. There is a cat, a kangaroo, a hedgehog, a frog, birds of prey, dragonflies and even some starfish, among others. I'm pretty sure I don't need so many windows in my house; I need wall space for one of these!

For your Thanksgiving pleasure I give you Leech Hirudinea . Bon Appétit!