Comments by ralpho

  • A creature which is coprophagic eats its own or other animals' droppings (feces).

    June 23, 2009

  • Prospero asks Caliban where his mother was born. Caliban says (approximately) "Sir, in Argier."

    Maybe that is Algeria?

    June 23, 2009

  • "Come from the holy fire,

    Pern in a gyre,

    And be the singing masters of my soul"

    W.B. Yeats, Sailing to Byzantium

    So I guess "pern" means spin, but I'm not sure.

    June 23, 2009

  • This is a condition in which the skin sloughs off. The squamous cells, I guess.

    After the blisters had he burn site was desquamated and showed considerable leakage of clear intercellular fluid.

    During the progression a severe allergic episode which required inpatient care, desquamation of the skin was observed where there had previously been extensive wheals.

    June 23, 2009

  • from Wikipedia: Alyeska is an archaic spelling of the Aleut word Alaska meaning "mainland", "great country", or "great land". The American state of Alaska derives its name from this word.

    June 17, 2009

  • Clathrous

    A descriptive adjective used in the taxonomic classification of certain sea sponge species.

    See http://www.niot.res.in/m5/old/MBiCWEB-5/Systematic/sponges/Clathria.htm

    Here's the quote:

    Key Identification characters

    • Sponge consists of a clathrous mass of flattened trabeculae. Colour, brick red when alive.

    • Texture firm and compressible. Oscules and pores are not traceable.

    June 9, 2009