I have measured out my life in ...

[shewhomust]

Still working through Saturday's Guardian, where I have just reached an encouraging article about spoonbills: they are, it seems, re-establishing themselves on the salt marshes of Norfolk. This is good news. But I should not have misread the statement, "This year, they boasted a record 77 young from 43 pairs of spoonbills." That's BOASTED, not ROASTED.

There is some excuse, though. Reading on, I learned of an unexpected source of historic population data: "We actually have an idea of where they used to be around the country from looking at estate banquet details from the Middle Ages."

I find this doubly delightful.

Comments

[cmcmck]

You sure that isn't a Grauniad misprint? They are a bit notorious for them after all!

[sovay]

"We actually have an idea of where they used to be around the country from looking at estate banquet details from the Middle Ages."

That is delightful.

[shewhomust]

That thought did cross my mind!

[shewhomust]

We used to buy meat at the market from a farmer who assured us that the best way to protect rare breeds was to eat them ...