I noticed someone asking about degus in the 107 issue. I don't know much abo about them but I spent a year in the Psych department at the Univ. of Oklahoma and a professor named XXXXX XXXXXXXX (who is now at U of something) had several degus. He intended to do some behavioral research on foraging but I don't know if he ever managed it. I took care of them and considered them quite vicious creatures. They weren't handled a great deal, of course, but usually every other day. The young ones were cute but as adults they look just like large gerbils with a more ratty tail. I find it amusing to think they are becoming popular as pets - I wasn't fond of them at all! [It appears that there are vast differences between animals raised as pets, and those raised for other purposes. I know many people who've dealt with them in the old country, who cannot believe that it's possible to handle ferrets without gloves] P.S. Chris, on second thought I probably shouldn't include XXXXX's name in the above, as more and more people are considering all research evil. Let's leave him anonymous. Please just put "and a professor there had several degus".... [Much as I'm against pointless animal research, I'm not going to permit ANY diatribes on the subject pro or anti in this mailing list, so don't worry about it] Come to think of it, next to a strange ferret that I trusted to close to my nose, a bite from one of those degus was the worst bite I have ever received from an animal! Cheers, Pam Reid [Posted in FML 0109]