Re: K.E. and his Calico Cow Suckers

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ]

Posted by K.E. on September 19, 2002 at 17:03:21:

In Reply to: K.E. and his Calico Cow Suckers posted by sbogill on September 19, 2002 at 15:46:55:

:K.E.,

:Man, your snakes are totally awesome and amazing. I'm just as sure that DNA testing would prove them non-native as you are that it would prove them native. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Either way, it still doesn't diminish the fact that they are beautiful and majestic animals.

:Also, I think my definition of a "papered Herpetologist" seems to be different than yours. I welcome the chance at being corrected if mine is the wrong definition----or perhaps that term means different things to different people. I think of a "papered herpetologist" as a person with a Biology degree in Herpetology (i.e. they have the sheep skins to back them up). I consider a "herp hobbyist" or "herp enthusiast" who has been published a "published enthusiast" for lack of a better term. If my use of terms is wrong I will humbly and appreciatively stand corrected. When I referred to you as a "non-papered herpetologist", that was certainly not a slur or otherwise intended to call into question your field expertise or herp knowledge (both of which no doubt exceed mine).

:At the very least, this topic is provoking and stimulating. Like you indicated in one of your posts, I wouldn't have it any other way. This stuff is tons of fun.

:Your friend,

:Mr. S.B. O'Gill
:

O.K.
I have to know though, do you think they are Elaphe obsoleta?
We may agree on the "papered" thing. What if someone has a degree in chemistry, but publishes a paper on a herp related subject? Is that person one? Or what if a person has a degree in behavioral science and publishes a paper? Are they one? I am not familiar with very many colleges that offer a degree in herpetology. I wonder if a guy like Craig Addler at Cornell has a degree in "Herpetology". Also, I consider Josph Collins to be a herpetologist, but he did not earn a degree. He openly admits that he was given one as a curtesy. This was probably because his university was ashamed to have a non-degreed person with tenure.(Conjecture) So you see where I was coming from? For me, those papers are just part of the package, and I am pretty sure you agree. If not, let me know. Also, I was interested in knowing what your take was on the first black rat we found the other night. Do you think it was a gray, a black, or an integrade? And I have to agree with you; I am having fun. I don't mind the disagreement. I am sure we will have more in the future as well as few things to agree on. K.E.

Follow Ups:

Re: K.E. and his Calico Cow Suckers sbogill 09/19/02 (0)