Received a trackback this morning from Jennifer (aka Jenny) at The So-Called Me. The post in question challenged bloggers to re-post their first post, and although I didn’t formally receive a tag (*cough, cough*) regular readers know only too well that you don’t have to tag me to get me to play, you just have to spark my interest.
Consider me sparked.
The first post I ever posted here at The Yak, titled “Tube Sock Behavior,” contained excerpts from A Field Study on the Behavioral Patterns of the North American Tube Sock. (Note: it also caused several family members to question my sanity, in one case quite literally suggesting that I might need mental help -Ed.) Memory and satire begins below the fold:
Tube Sock Behavior
This important research has received little attention from the mainstream media. Thanks to all who requested publication of this vital data.
Excerpts from A Field Study on the Behavioral Patterns of the North American Tube Sock:
The North American Tube Sock (coverinus tubulus Americanus) is cold-blooded, requiring significant amounts of basking time. If kept in a confined space, the Tube Sock will develop a migratory pattern in order to satisfy this basking instinct.I have spent many years studying both the Albino Tube Sock and its close cousins, the Blue- and Red-Ringed Tube Sock, and have discovered that they exhibit similar tendencies. Their less common relative, the Black Dress Sock, is an elusive creature most commonly sighted immediately following major holidays and job interviews. A pronounced tendency toward hibernation creates unique difficulties for individuals wishing to study this unique species.
More study is clearly required. From what I have been able to ascertain, though months of study, the North American Tube Sock (coverinus tubulus Americanus) appears capable of both complete and partial inversion. Significant further study is required to develop a definitive explanation for this behavior, which often appears in basking specimens. Leading theories include inversion as a response to stress (similar to behaviors exhibited by the sea cucumber, although we have yet to locate the ?missing link? between these startlingly similar species) and inversion for purposes of camouflage (which recently replaced ?boredom? as my current leading theory).
Some interesting facts relating to the inversion behavior:
1. The North American Tube Sock seems to begin exhibition of the inversion behavior at a very young age. Both the full-sized and dwarf varieties exhibit the behavior.
2. The dwarf North American Tube Sock (coverinus tubulus Americanus “Son”) seems to engage in inversion behaviors more often than its full-sized counterpart (coverinus tubulus Americanus “Husbandus”), which lends credence to the camouflage theory.
3. A secondary form of inversion is known as the “roll” or “ball.” In this behavior, the Tube Sock curls into itself, forming an odd sphere. I am uncertain whether this represents a modified form of inversion or a completely separate behavior. A leading theory suggests that this is a “rapid response” form of inversion, in which the Tube Sock is surprised or otherwise distracted during inversion, resulting in an incomplete demonstration of the behavior.
Now…if you’re reading this, and you have a blog, go ahead and republish your first post. I won’t tag anyone specifically, but if you link and track back, I’ll link you in from here.
Trackposted to Pirate’s Cove, Webloggin, Dumb Ox Daily News, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
