tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post3904102399533803261..comments2024-03-22T21:58:18.933+00:00Comments on ShukerNature: THE TURKEY, THE TAPESTRY, AND SOME FOWL PLAY IN THE CATHEDRAL!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628598508836601012noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-21185479278498009182021-10-16T19:54:22.442+01:002021-10-16T19:54:22.442+01:00What is commonly referrred to as the tail of the p...What is commonly referrred to as the tail of the peacock is actually a series of specialised extra-long tail-covert feathers known as the train, as opposed to its normal tail feathers, these latter being hidden beneath them. However, peahens do not possess highly specialised train feathers, only the normal tail feathers and normal-sized tail coverts, so they couldn't produce the same fan effect that peacocks do.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-68454884342073554062021-10-16T06:55:22.138+01:002021-10-16T06:55:22.138+01:00When I was younger, I believed peahens could sprea...When I was younger, I believed peahens could spread their tails to produce a much smaller fan than peacocks. Regardless of whether this is purely fictional or a real behaviour emerging only in exceptional circumstances, perhaps such a belief influenced the tapestry. I'm just relating this for curiosity's sake. As the tapestry portrays other creatures which don't seem real, I'm not too bothered about the tentative turkey.Ethan Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477704222423568933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-1875839337733003222016-12-22T18:17:49.634+00:002016-12-22T18:17:49.634+00:00As noted above, I am by no means convinced of a tu...As noted above, I am by no means convinced of a turkey (or, indeed, any other) identity currently proposed for the Bayeux mystery bird. However, it needs to be pointed out here that if this bird really was intended to represent a turkey, we should take into account the undeniable fact that domestic turkeys from over a millennium ago are likely to have looked quite (possibly very) different from those of today, especially as the latter are grossly obese, unnatural forms in comparison to their wild ancestors, and that a fair few other modern-day domestic animal breeds also look very different from their much earlier counterparts and antecedents. So, whether or not the Bayeux bird looks like today's turkeys is not a crucial deciding factor as to whether or not it was meant to represent a turkey.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-15068301070279813332016-12-22T17:44:46.243+00:002016-12-22T17:44:46.243+00:00I'm a biologist in East Texas, where turkeys a...I'm a biologist in East Texas, where turkeys are common. I have identified 386 bird species across North America, and often have seen big toms strutting their stuff during the mating season. To me, the image in question looks nothing like a turkey, beyond the most superficial characteristics- round body and short legs and neck. I don't know what it represents, but I'd bet the farm it's not a turkey.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15813432264364158240noreply@blogger.com