Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site dciem.UUCP
Path: utzoo!dciem!mmt
From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Psychic Wombats (confusion rampant)
Message-ID: <623@dciem.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Jan-84 18:38:56 EST
Article-I.D.: dciem.623
Posted: Mon Jan 16 18:38:56 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Jan-84 20:02:49 EST
References: <3121@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Organization: D.C.I.E.M., Toronto, Canada
Lines: 18

Has it not occured to the net that the division of opinion on
wombats is due to the fact that two distinct species are being
confused? The wombbhat of Rhajasthan is a gentle creature
much beloved of pregnant women, who feel that its spirit will
enliven the child, whereas the Wham-Bat of North Carolina is
probably the one toward which so much virulence has been displayed.
I cannot imagine the wombbhat indulging in the sort of tunnelling
activities that have been so vividly described.  The Wham-Bat, on
the other hand, could very quickly pulverize the rock in its path.
The vagaries of English spelling, which have caused so much
anguish on the net, have led the two species to converge in print,
if not in behaviour.  Neither species is especially well endowed
with psychic power, and claims to the contrary must be regarded
as probably paranoid.
-- 

Martin Taylor
{allegra,linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd,ubc-vision}!utzoo!dciem!mmt