strange creatures

(tried to post this last week from, but it didn't go up)

wandered over to the academy of natural sciences. really better suited to kids, and completely overrun with school field trips. the highlights were a couple floors of stuffed animals in painted "natural" habitats from all of the continents. it's so strange to see animals that are familiar but so different... like this auk:



it's funny too because i forgot i was in philadelphia until overhearing a man telling his group of kids that he had actually seen these animal in real life - standing in front of a display of racoons, skunks, and possums. not a kid in texas that would be impressed.