A PERFECT PICTURE OF MYSTERY - A POSITIVE OUTLOOK?

Following the query in my previous blog about what the enigmatic Canzanella mystery beasts painting, which looks very like a photo-negative with black background and ghostly white-furred animals, might look like if it were converted to a photo-positive version by colour-inverting it to yield a white background and colour-furred animals, I have duly done this. So here is the original version (top pic). And here's the very thought-provoking colour-inverted version (bottom pic). What do you think? Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice may well have said!

A PERFECT PICTURE OF MYSTERY

As I've often noted, mystery animals can turn up in the most unlikely places - and back in 2002 one of these just so happened to be the American version of ebay, the online auction house.

From 16 to 26 September 2002, a most extraordinary painting was offered there, as Item #907237942, by a seller from Old Town, Florida, using the name ectopistes@webtv.net and requiring an undisclosed reserve price. According to the seller's description of this painting, it was an original unframed water-colour, measuring 22" by 30", bearing the signature Canzanella, and it depicted a pair of very odd-looking mammals - see above photo.

The one in the foreground was described by the seller as white with a very slight pinkish hue (as the seller's video-camera photo of the painting had made it seem yellow). The seller had owned the painting for roughly 28 years after paying a thousand dollars for it, but had no information as to what the animals in it were. Emphasising their curious appearance, he/she had entitled the item 'Strange Cryptozoology Animal Painting'.

Certainly, the creatures depicted are decidedly unusual, even sinister, and I cannot readily identify them with any known species. There are certain similarities to badgers (though the portrayed animals' legs seem too long for all but perhaps the Asian hog badger Arctonyx collaris), and others to various viverrids. The pink-hued white fur of the foreground specimen may indicate albinism.

In any event, the painting is reproduced here, and I'd welcome any opinions or information concerning the mystifying animals depicted, and the equally mysterious artist responsible for depicting them.

A MUDDLE OF MERMAIDS!

A fake mermaid (Ivan Mackerle)

It's certainly a seriously strange world out there!

A few days ago, a correspondent brought to my attention an extraordinary report recently filed on the online Fanoos Encyclopedia. It reads as follows:

"Real mermaid discovered in Batroun

"For six years now, rumours of an alleged mermaid visiting the shores of Batroun around early spring have been received with much scepticism. The reported encounters were so numerous that many residents of Batroun swore mermaids are real and not mere fantasy creatures from fictitious legends. Some were even convinced, like Emme Aoun ,who claims to have seen one in 2004, that they might be trying to warn us about something such as an upcoming Tsunami.

"But recently, the astonishing discovery of what appears to be a dead “mermaid” that had perished on the shores of Batroun, near The Phoenician Wall, has left even the most pragmatic speechless! Toufic Shebtini and his girlfriend Mona Chedid were the first to come across the decaying carcass, while on a romantic stroll. They have been officially warned not to give out any interviews or answer to inquiries even by their closest relatives. This amazing incident was quickly contained and intentionally smothered! It is said that two foreign men alongside a woman (most probably German) working aboard a German vessel present in the Lebanese waters at that time, were seen on the premises within minutes. The corpse was immediately shipped to Germany under very tight security, before heading to the University of Birmingham where it was put in the care of Dr. Karl P. N. Shuker.

"British marine biologist Dr. Shuker is actually a zoologist specialized in cryptozoology, which is the study of "hidden" animals. Cryptozoologists look either to find creatures like the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti, or "re-find" seemingly extinct species like the Tasmanian wolf (Thylacine) and New Zealand''s giant moas etc...

"However, the found creature is far less attractive than the common mermaids in folktales usually represented with the body of a young, beautiful woman. (See the two-tailed siren illustration of “Hortis Sanitati” from 1491). Actually, this one has the withered body of a monkey and the dried tail of a fish. On first consideration, it is believed to most likely be an unknown form of primate adapted to sea-life! The photographs depicting the “mermaid” are absolutely authentic and are neither computer generated nor digitally retouched.

"Awaiting the final verdict of authenticity by Dr. Shuker expected very soon. They have all refused to give any clarifications regarding the matter, complying with the imposed discretion."

Fascinating though it may be, this report (accompanied on the website by a photo of a 'stuffed' Fiji-type mermaid specimen, clearly composed of monkey and fish remains sewn together) has no basis in reality - for the simple reason that I can categorically confirm no mermaid remains, alleged or otherwise, have ever been sent to me to examine! Hence I have no idea whatsoever how or where this claim originated. Equally odd is the statement that I am based at the University of Birmingham (England), bearing in mind that although I did indeed obtain my PhD in zoology and comparative physiology there, I subsequently left to pursue a freelance writing and consulting career over 20 years ago!

All in all, a very baffling little vignette, and it isn't even 1 April !!