Mockingbirds can imitate any sound from a squeaking door to a cat meowing.

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

An ostrich can run at speeds up to 45 miles per  hour.

A bird’s eye takes up about 50 percent of its head; our eyes take up about 5 percent of our head. To be comparable to a bird’s eyes, our eyes would have to be the size of baseballs.

The penguin is the only bird that can swim, but not fly. It is also the only bird that walks upright.

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How long might you expect your animals to live?  Animals in captivity tend to live much longer than those in the wild. If your critter is very healthy, has very good genetics, and is very lucky you might hope that it lasts somewhere close to the following . . .

Giant Tortoise – 152 years
Box Turtle – 123 years
Turkey Buzzard – 118 years
Swan – 102 years
Golden Eagle – 80 years
Amazon Parrot – 80 years
Indian Elephant – 70 years
Raven – 69 years
Catfish – 60 years
Alligator – 56 years
Eel – 55 years
Condor – 52 years
Pelican – 52 years
African Elephant – 50 years
African Grey Parrot – 50 years
Horse – 50 years
Donkey – 50 years
Chimpanzee – 50 years
Ostrich – 50 years
Sturgeon – 50 years
Carp – 50 years
Herring Gull – 50 years
Buffalo – 45 years
Hippopotamus – 41 years
Rhinoceros – 40 years
Camel – 40 years
Mule – 37 years
Lion – 35 years
Blue Whale – 35 years
Pigeon – 35 years
Grizzly Bear – 34 years
Goose – 32 years
Zebra – 30 years
Seal – 30 years
Cat – 30 years
Giraffe – 28 years
Cobra – 28 years
Penguin – 26 years
Tiger – 25 years
Goldfish – 25 years
Salamander – 25 years
Deer – 20 to 25 years depending on breed
Pike – 24 years
Owl – 24 years
Heron – 24 years
Skylark – 24 years
Boa Constrictor – 23 years
Jaguar – 22 years
Canary – 22 years
Cardinal – 22 years
Cottonmouth – 21 years
Gila Monster – 20 years
Python – 20 years
Porcupine – 20 years
Javelina – 20 years
Sparrow – 20 years
Dog – 20 years
Beaver – 20 years
Mountain Lion – 18 years
Rattlesnake – 18 years
Gray Squirrel – 18 years
Cicada – 17 years
Wolf – 16 years
Porpoise – 15 years
Reindeer – 15 years
Bullfrog – 15 years
Otter – 15 years
Bighorn Sheep – 15 years
Antelope – 15 years
Turkey – 15 years
Badger – 15 years
Starling – 15 years
Bat – 15 years
King Snake – 14 years
Fox – 14 years
Crocodile – 13 years
Raccoon – 13 years
Skunk – 12 years
Dove - 12 years
Robin – 12 years
Perch – 11 years
Goat – 10 years
Rabbit – 10 years
Quail – 10 years
Flounder – 10 years
Fox Squirrel – 10 years
Opossum – 8 years
Humming Bird – 8 years
Chicken – 7 years
Water Snake – 7 years
Chickadee – 7 years
Seahorse – 6 years
Crappie – 6 years
Garter Snake – 6 years
Lizard – 6 years
Guinea Pig – 5 years
Mouse – 4 years
Trout – 4 years
Blue Jay – 4 years
Chameleon – 3 years
Mole – 3 years
Shrew – 2 years

This paperback is very interesting, but I find it will never replace a hardcover book – it makes a very poor doorstop.

Seeing a murder on television, can help work off one’s antagonisms. And if you haven’t any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some.

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