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From:	John(HI) (cpe-66-91-34-102.hawaii.res.rr.com)
Subject:	Speaking of exotic animals...
Date:	November 27, 2006 at 5:42 pm PST

In Reply to: For you exotic pet lovers posted by Jim on November 27, 2006 at 1:05 pm:

While running on a seldom-used road last month, I came across a creature in the road that I had never seen before. It appeared to have the body of a toad and the head and feathers of a bird. It had been flattened by some careless driver but it reminded me very much of the extinct archaeopteryx that is supposed to be the link between birds and reptiles.
I hurried home for a box, retrieved the creature, and carefully packed it in dry ice. I decided to send it off to the Smithsonian with a cover letter explaining the circumstances of my find. In case it turned out to be a heretofore unseen specimen, I suggested the name "avobufojohnii," signifiying the mix of the families Aves and Bufonidae, and adding my name as a suffix, as is the custom for discoverers of new species.
While I waited anxiously for a response from the Smithsonian, I made a number of fruitless return visits to the area of my discovery in the hope of seeing a live creature with both bird and toad characteristics.
Within a week, the Smithsonia letter arrived and I opened it with visions of having my name included in the pantheon of famous zoologists.
The letter was disappointingly brief and somewhat dismissive.
"After careful laboratory analysis of the specimen you sent us, we have determined that "avobufojohnii" was most likely the intermingled corpses of two roadkill victims, probably occurring when the avian contributor (a common myna)was flattened and embedded in the corpse of the bufo (a marine or cane toad) contributor while feasting on its remains. Your interest in advancing the field of zoological science is appreciated."
See if I send them any more stuff.

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