Justfolk

Justfolk club

Posted: 14 Aug 2014


Taken: 13 Aug 2014

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Coprology? Is that the word?

Coprology? Is that the word?
A friend of mine spent a couple of summers as a university student
collecting and analysing turds of wild animals. "Scat," he'd say, "or
traces. Not turds." At the same time another friend studying
archaeology got interested in the preserved turds of earlier peoples.
"Coprolites," he'd say. "Not turds." I don't know anymore -- if I
did back then -- what the proper name for the study of such things is:
coprology seems as good as any other name. Those conversations, forty
years ago, made me into an amateur coprologist -- at least when I am
in the wild. I am always wondering, "Who left this behind?"

My walking friends and I discussed this one. A possibility was that it
was not a turd at all, but something coughed up, as it were, by an owl
or the like. I don't think so. It has no signs of feather, hair or
bone: just seeds and berries. It was about 5 cm long and almost 2 cm
across at the widest. A second one I did not take a picture of was
somewhat bigger again. A large vegan owl, perhaps, but more likely
something with four legs.

Comments
 Justfolk
Justfolk club
I just looked it up. Coprology is right.
10 years ago.
 Justfolk
Justfolk club
Yes. There are weasels and mink in the neighbourhood but I thought it was too big for them. Foxes abound there and there is the possibility of something larger, like a coyote. If coyotes are like other dogs, they might binge on sweet berries when there are lots around.
10 years ago.

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