On the other hand, there is this interesting fact I've found:
"Words change meaning over time, as well as fall in and out of use. A handy term also may not get used simply because a person hasn't heard of it. Some other words rabbits and deer have in common are that both can be described as "herbivorous" "prey" animals (animals who eat plants who sometimes get eaten by other animals).
You can also refer to them by the time of day when they are most active: rabbits and deer are not "nocturnal" (active at night), nor are they "diurnal" (active during the day). They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at twilight. This is a logical time for them to be up doing what they need to do: it's too bright for nocturnal predators to see well, and too dim for daytime hunters.
Another interesting thing that deer and rabbits share is a special name for their tails. That short, erect tuft of fur on their backsides is called a scut. This word dates back at least 400 years, but it's one you just don't hear anymore (although it is in lots of dictionaries). Often their scuts act as flags for others of their species. When alarmed, they may flip up the underside of their tails to flash a message of danger--or excitement. (Note: Although the underside of a deer or bunny tail is often white, the actual color varies by species.)"
www.rabbit.org/journal/3-11/scuts.html
No comments:
Post a Comment