Animals
Tanuki
The adorable little guy above is not what you may think. He's a Tanuki, a raccoon dog. They are indigenous to Japan and while they are a bit different than other canines they are still in that family. They exist in the wild, but are also kept as pets like the one in the story at the link. I'd have sworn the little guy was an actual raccoon.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 26, 2016 -
Comments (9)
Category: Animals, Dogs, Asia
Cobra Skins for Sale
Original ad here.
How much are you willing to bet that these snake skins were a) not cobras and b) were not imported from "British India"...?
And by the way:
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 20, 2016 -
Comments (8)
Category: Animals, Taxidermy, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, 1950s
Kenny The Tiger
Of course Kenny the tiger did not have Downs syndrome, his deformities were due to inbreeding. He was an interesting looking cat though. Unfortunately, Kenny's lifespan was significantly shortened as well, he only lived for 10 years. So to the breeders, in the words of Kyle and Stan on South Park, "They killed Kenny!" "You bastards!"
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 16, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Animals, Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature, Health, Nature
Turkey Flight
I am sure you have heard of emotional support animals. They soothe people with mental issues and are afforded the same exemptions to enter places as service animals such as seeing eye dogs. Most often emotional support animals are dogs and cats, but not always. When someone has an unusual support animal like, say, a turkey, that animal is also allowed to accompany the person. Everywhere, even on an airplane. A turkey on an airplane, I wonder if the TSA patted down that passenger.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Jan 14, 2016 -
Comments (8)
Category: Animals
Suicidal Deer
Illinois has put up new and different kind of deer crossing signs in order to get driver's attention. The idea came from a relative of an Illinois Township Highway commissioner. The relative had been to Colorado and seen them there. Cool idea, as it does grab one's attention.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Jan 12, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: Animals, Public Utilities
Mechanical duck attacks puppy
Merry Weird Christmas, everyone!
The San Mateo Times — Dec 26, 1951
CHICAGO, Dec. 26 — A mechanical duck disrupted the Christmas day quiet in the Lonnie Miller home.
The toy, wound up by 8-year-old Donald Miller, waddled across the floor and latched on to the tail of Smokie, a 10-month-old puppy.
Smokie howled. So did Donald. The duck held on grimly to the tail which was entangled in its clockwork mechanism.
Donald's father took Smokie and the duck to the animal welfare league where Allen Glisch separated the two with pliers, a screwdriver and wire snippers.
Posted By: Alex - Fri Dec 25, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Holidays, 1950s
Fighting Tigers
Posted By: Paul - Thu Dec 24, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Movies, Asia
Uncle Wiggly vs. DONNIE DARKO Rabbit
Equally creepy? The earlier guy the inspiration for the later one?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 20, 2015 -
Comments (7)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Games, Movies, 1920s, 2000s, Fictional Monsters
Cannibalistic Ducks
Cannibalistic terror in the world of ducks:
El Paso Herald - Aug 18, 1926
A quick google search reveals that cannibalism is a "vice" that ducks are known to sometimes develop. As noted on an Australian government website about the brooding and rearing of ducks:
overcrowding
lack of ventilation
faulty nutrition.
The only known way to stop it is to remove the rim at the front of the bird’s upper bill. Commercial beak-trimming machines are available. They have heated cauterising blades and run on electricity or butane gas. Beak trimming should be performed only by a competent operator and only when it is essential to reduce damage and suffering in the flock.
Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 19, 2015 -
Comments (10)
Category: Animals, 1920s
Elmer Saves Christmas
Elmer research here and here.
Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 19, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Fey, Twee, Whimsical, Naive and Sadsack, Holidays, 1950s
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |