Well, here we are, the letter everyone loves to hate has arrived again. This week’s ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the letter ‘X‘. And for a change, I actually have something exciting for you! See that fish up there? It’s a swordfish. And you know what? It’s a member of the family Xiphiidae, and goes by the name of Xiphias gladius.
But wait … that fish is not swimming! He’s stuffed, is what he is, and I saw him in a natural history museum in Tring, Hertfordshire, when I visited friends back in May this year.
This gorgeous fellow looks like a close relative, doesn’t he? I mean, you’d think he was a member of the Xiphiidae too, wouldn’t you?
But no. This is a sailfish, from another family altogether. This natural history is fascinating stuff, no? And of course, my Other Half, Mr Yellow Swordfish, isn’t a fish at all – although if he were, I’m willing to speculate that perhaps his name would be Xiphias xanthus.
The Tring Natural History Museum is absolutely stuffed (if you’ll pardon the pun) with thousands of creatures of all kinds, all preserved by the art of taxidermy, except for the invertebrates which are merely pickled. It looks like a very creepy and unpleasant place to some, I know, because one of the ladies I visited with that day had to go out and sit in the foyer for a while, but in fact it houses a collection of enormous importance to scientists and researchers aiming to preserve and protect those animals we have left in the world. Talking of which …
You know what these birds are, don’t you?
These are Dodos*! Members of an extinct species, meaning there are no Dodos left anywhere in the world. The poor things are an eX-species. Not known for extreme intelligence, they were hunted by man and beast until they were gone.
Another type of bird in the collection is the kiwi, from New Zealand. These ultra-cute little guys are members of the genus Apterix, which conveniently for me contains a most useful ‘X‘!
There were so many things there that I didn’t take photos of, sadly. Like the Deathwatch Beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum), and the African Oryx. I thought I had an Oryx, but no, lots of antelope as you see, but no Oryx. Unless that’s the backside of one, here on the left?
Well. It might be! They have very distinctively marked faces, you see, but their bums could be anybody. Well, almost anybody. They do have that tufted tail …
Oh, one more thing. In the entranceway of the museum stands a dog which in my day as a veterinary nurse we would have written up as a ‘X-breed‘, which was shorthand for cross-breed, or mongrel. His name, as you see, was London Jack.
And he, along with other dogs scattered all over England, patrolled the station platforms during the late 1800s collecting for the Railwaymen’s charity which helped to support the families of those killed in the course of their work. I’m sure he must have had a nicer expression on his face when he was alive, or he wouldn’t have collected much, would he?
*Don’t get too xcited. Those aren’t real, stuffed dodos, they are re-creations, based on many resources and as close to the real thing as the xperts could get.
I like the dog. Perhaps he’s looking very sad because of the poor children who lost their father! Or perhaps it was just his face.
Mara´s last blog ..X is for…
Oooooh, I am just off to Tring – going to the Tescos to buy cheese to take back to Canada, along with tubs of marmite and case of beans. I do remember going to the museum there, a looooong time ago when I was a little girl. I seem to remember that they have a blue whale slung right across the ceiling.
Don’t Bug Me!´s last blog ..Merry Christmas, One and All!
Thanks for explaining the Dodo–I wondered how they had gotten those creatures. London Jack was quite a hero–I trust these dogs were well-fed. Very interesting, Jay! Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Rose´s last blog ..Christmas Reflections
Spooky but interesting, the sailfish is rather beautiful. I thought crossly no wonder the dodo is extict until I saw your explanation. Great X.
By coincidence I saw a programme recently that mentioned the Rothchild collection,(which I think is partly at Tring) apparently when donated it held more species than the National History Museum had.
Joy´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – X
That looks a great place. Xcellent!
Anthony North´s last blog ..XENOPHOBIA
What a fun tour! I sure wish there were dodos left so we could see them in nature.
A museum was a perfect place to find x’s!
lisaschaos´s last blog ..Gingerbread Makings
Really nice and interesting post! I like the fish:)
Wish you a Happy New Year!
Spiderdama´s last blog ..2009 i bilder – Del 5
Very clever ones! I must remember to brush up on zoology etc before the next round
RuneE´s last blog ..A bridge at Christmas-time
What a great post for the X day! Very interesting information and I always enjoy learning something new! Thanks as always for your visits and you comments! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
Sylvia
Sylvia Kirkwood´s last blog ..Evening, Wisdom and Beauty
Great post. I never realized there were so many words that began with X. Interesting animals and fish.
photowannabe´s last blog ..ABC WEDNESDAY LETTER " X "
Haven’t been to the Museum of Natural History in ages, and your photos and narratives were xemplary, Jay! Thank you for your tour!
Wishing you and your loved ones a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year, Jay!
)
petra michelle´s last blog ..
EXcellent post Jay! X is a tricky letter, but you’ve done us proud.
Dragonstar´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – W & X.
OMG, Tring!! Sorry to digress, but Hugh Heffner once had a mansion there, which when he sold it was turned into a hotel, well more of an upmarket guest house really. A whole lifetime ago I and a bunch of friends spent New Years Eve/day there. It had the most amazing jaccuzzi there, I have fond memories of drinking champagne in it around 3am.. giggle. Oooooooooh, thanks for reminding me of my mis-spent youth!!!
I never did check out the museum. Great photo’s!
Happy New Year, hon.
shrinky´s last blog ..Deja-Vous
That’s a very interesting museum, Jay! When I was in Australia we went fishing at sea one day. The fish we caught had razor sharp dorsal fins and we had to handle them with care to avoid being cut. It looks like some of your stuffed fish also have very sharp dorsal fins. The kiwi is amazing: its egg is very big for such a small bird. I saw them in New Zealand.
Thanks for your visit! Believe me Australian beer is so strong that indigenous people are drunk after two cans or bottles. Well I wish you a very happy New Year!
Reader Wil´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday, XXXX Beer in Australia.
Thank goodness for those scientific names!
Roger Green´s last blog ..Forsooth! A final week of 2009 meme!
Thanks for a marvelous tour of the museum. As a biologist, I was always fascinated by the museum of this kind.
Grace and Bradley´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday: X for Hugs and Kisses
Mara – You may have something there – perhaps they stuffed him with a mournful expression on purpose, so he could look as if he were begging on behalf of the orphans? It’s a good thought!
DBM – You’re in England and I didn’t know? I could have popped down to say hello! *Pouts*
The blue whale is in the Natural History Museum in London. I remember being taken there as a child, too!
Rose – I was glad that they hadn’t been killed to be stuffed. And I imagine the station dogs were very well cared for – they were almost certainly the station master’s pet.
Happy new year to you too!
Joy – You are absolutely right, the ‘menagerie’ at Tring is part of the Rothschild collection. And the Tring Natural History museum is now part of our National Natural History Museum, which is based in London. I guess if you can’t beat ‘em you .. not so much ‘join ‘em’ as take ‘em over, in this case!
Anthony North – Thank you!
Lisa’s Chaos – Me too! You know, I was so excited to see the dodos, then I read the little plaque and found they were fake. Oh, well. At least it means they didn’t kill any of those.
Spiderdama – Thank you!
RuneE – Yes, it’s a good tip, eh?
Sylvia Kirkwood – Thank you!
I always try to make my ABC posts interesting for my non-ABC Wednesday readers too.
Photowannabe – Latin names are great for odd letters.
Petra Michelle – Oh, you should go. Natural History Museums are fascinating places. Happy new year to you, too!
Dragonstar – Why, thank you! I’ll pop along to see if there be dragons later. I bet there are!
Shrinky – Oooh, do tell – what was the guest house called? Maybe I can stay there next time I’m down! Sounds FUN! LOL!
Reader Wil – I’m envious! We were in New Zealand for a year, but the only kiwis we saw were captive. We went looking in forests at dusk, too.
I’ll remember not to let OH drink too much of the beer if we ever visit Australia!
Roger Green – Thank heavens, indeed! Where would I have been without them?
Grace & Bradley – You’d love it. They have so much there, it’s impossible to know what to look at first! And they do behind the scenes tours, and special interest lectures and all kinds of things. I am annoyed to find I missed a special exhibition of strange and unusual exhibits in November. It included a wasps nest in a bowler hat (which belonged to a Rothschild) a beetle which looked as if it was made of silver, and a collection of rare and beautiful sea shells. Not to mention a cursed tree! Darnit!
Xcellent post! It’s been a long time since I’ve toured a museum but it sounds like a good idea! Happy New Year!
Tumblewords´s last blog ..X for ABC Wednesday
Ah you might not have an Oryx but looks like you scored a couple of Bongos. Fun post. I’ve never been to Tring. And Wil’s right about the beer! That’s why I stick to Chardy
Baino´s last blog ..Eat My Leaves then Flush . . .
The picture of the sailfish is AWESOME!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Happy New Year
Nice “X” post. Alot of stuffed animals and fish.
Barb´s last blog ..ABC Wed. – "X" = X-Tra Special
That sailfish is absolutely brilliant, – an electric blue, I would say, and most Xellent.
That blue swordfish (X marks the item) is a real work of art! I always thought Tring was a made-up name!
Rinkly Rimes´s last blog ..The Breaking of the Drought!
This is an interesting museum, I definitely want to visit this kind of museum.
Jama´s last blog ..Thursday Challenge- Red and white rose
Xcellent stuff(ed)Jay! I especially like the dog. Would that be allowed nowadays do you think? Or would the RSPCA step in? Can’t see any harm in it myself – as long as the dog was allowed to take a tree or fire hydrant break, now and then… Oh what am I worrying about – he’s an X dog!!
Nice post.
Geri Atric´s last blog ..BOOM-DIDDY-BOOM!
Wonderfully informative and amusing post! What a great museum to visit – I must remember it if I ever visit Tring.
jabblog´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday X is for Xanadu
Tumblewords – I like to visit museums now and then. I find them fascinating.
Baino – ROFL!! A couple of Bongos? I dare not ask. :p
Meleah, Barb and Hildred – Thanks! yes, he is something, isn’t he? Hard to believe such an electric blue could be natural, but it is.
Rinkly Rimes – Sounds like a made-up name, doesn’t it? But no, Tring is a real place. And yes, that sailfish is gorgeous, isn’t he? Such colours!
Jama – Thanks – yes, it’s great fun.
Geri – Haha! Yes, I’m sure it would be allowed so long as the dog was properly cared for. We do street collections with Sid, and meet and greets, and sometimes he wears his donation jacket.
Jabblog – Thank you! Yes, visit if you can – it’s fascinating!
Xceptional and educational as well!!! Happy New Year Jay!!!!
Kate´s last blog ..The end of the year and what happens next!!!
Swordfish is wonderful…especially with lemon and tartar sauce…
Mr. Nighttime´s last blog ..Resolutions? I don’t need no steenkin resolutions!
Heya, Jay- Lovely job there with “X”– not and easy one and you did it elegantly.
I’m fond of the dodos, real or not. It’s like seeing a Jasper Fforde novel in 3-D.
I hope you have a wonderful 2010!!
Jenn of Many Cabbages´s last blog ..We All Live in a Red ‘Check Engine’ Light
Totally fascinating. At one time, before I discovered your blog, I had considered doing something similar to your alphabet days, but my first thought was, “Oh, I’d never be able to find anything for x, except for xylophone and xray!” You’ve certainly proven me wrong!
Happy New Year!
ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..Happy Anniversary, My Son
Kate – Thanks, Kate – Happy New Year to you, too!
Mr N – I wouldn’t know!
Mr Yellow Swordfish has tried it and says it’s nothing special. How modest of him. 
Jenn – Thank you, how kind! I always feel sorry for dodos, though it’s pointless now. But a Jasper Fford novel in 3D? Please … NOOOOOOOO!!!! I can’t read him I’m afraid. Does it sound odd coming from me that I find him too silly? LOL!
Ethelmaepotter – Thanks! Well, ABC Wednesday isn’t mine, it belongs to Mrs Nesbitt, and as you see, lots of people play, but I enjoy the challenge. I’ve done random objects around the house and garden, and I’ve done archives, now I’m wondering what to do next. Maybe something with greyhounds, or perhaps I’ll try to find pictures with something suggesting the letter in them – as many people have done with ‘X’. Watch this space!
Oh, and you should try joining in! It’s fun, and you can always drop out again, or just do the letters you fancy.
Happy New Year!
fascinating X post, so exceptionally educational!
Lily´s last blog ..talk about a bird’s eye view…
You really did a great job on X Jay and on my favorite topic… wildlife….Have a very Happy New Year… Michelle
kiwis such a cute bird i think sanyd
sandy´s last blog ..Today’s Flowers- a big frost approaches this week. I will bag them and try to save but I believe 20 is too severe