Spyke

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1731 Lion of Gripsholm Castle, poorly stuffed due to the taxidermist's unfamiliarity with lions, resulting in a comically deformed face

The Lion of Gripsholm Castle is a notable example of bad taxidermy located in Gripsholm Castle, Sweden. The Lion is badly stuffed and is considered to have a comically deformed face.[1]

In 1731, the dey of Algiers presented King Frederick I of Sweden with a lion, one of the first lions in Scandinavia.[2] When alive, the lion was kept in a cage near Junibacken. When the lion died, it was stuffed and mounted; however, the taxidermist and the museum-keepers had never actually seen a lion before, and did not know how they were supposed to look.[3] The taxidermist mostly based the reconstruction off of historic artwork of lions. As a result, the mount was especially anatomically inaccurate, most apparent in its face.

In the 21st century, the badly-stuffed lion has been widely mocked.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_of_Gripsholm_Castle

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Mongoose Figure | Egypt, 664–30 B.C. (Late Period or Ptolemaic Period)

A source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544088 (currently in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY)

During the Late Period and Ptolemaic times mongooses were represented in bronze statuettes such as this one, standing, forepaws raised, atop small bronze boxes. The pose of raised paws signifies the animal's adoration of the sun god when he rises in the morning. Some scholars have identified these animals as otters rather than mongooses.

In myth, mongooses were particularly attached to the goddess of Lower Egypt Wadjet, whose cult was centered in Buto, in the northern Delta.

history

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Method of wrapping carrier pigeons

“One of the more unusual (but still fascinating) exhibitions at Bletchley Park is all about the role pigeons have played in the First and Second World Wars. Aircrews used them as rudimentary black boxes, writing their coordinates on a message and releasing the pigeon if they had to ditch or crash land.

There was also a cull of birds-of-prey all along the south coast during World War Two to ensure the pigeons could get back safely.” https://howtobearetronaut.com/2010/09/method-of-wrapping-carrier-pigeons/

Canadian PO (A) S Jess, wireless operator of an Avro Lancaster bomber carrying two pigeon boxes. This is photograph TR 193 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public Domain, Link https://aviationoiloutlet.com/blog/pigeons-of-war/