Well now, I'm titillatingly delighted by the erudite commentary of Messers. Bostrom and Janke, the two Michaels. Ref. Ferret List Digest #2264 0331 to 040198. They have also attempted to hypothesize their observations of ferret response to certain sounds (auditory stimulations). Great. Just so we're on the same page here, please let me define the subtle difference that I see between a hypothesis and a theory, to wit: when I hypothesize, I give a description of what I see, and following that factual presentation, I give and I seek from whomever a discussion from them the many and possible reasons for the actions observed. No explanation is offered in an hypothesis. When I theorize, I attempt to offer the ONE most plausible and simplest possible explanation for the hypothesis that I've presented. So it seems that after many, many observations the tendency is to offer an explanation for the observations, and thus a theory is "invented." Obviously, the hypothesis comes before the theory. One cannot explain the reason for something without basic data. Theories are not facts. Theories are the most plausible explanations that are designed to be tested and should be tested anytime and everytime new hypotheses are made known, and in the event the theory is holed (found faulty) by the discovery of new observations, it then reverts to a hypothesis again. Does it not? Theories that can be maintained in the face of new factual observations, on the other hand, serve to reinforce the potential validity of the offered theory and bolster the strength of that theory. And, therefore, theories that stand scruinty over time evolve into something (?), an assumption, just short of factual. But, to get back to the responses of some ferrets to sounds, to certain sounds above others, to look closely at the auditory responses of some ferrets, is the primary concern I address here. I am delighted to read Messers. " the dual Michaels" postings and in particular to the clever acronym invented for the Ferret Infant Response Syndrome: FIRS. I should like to delve into this derivation just a little bit further, since ferrets do respond to sounds other than infant cries: sounds, that to us may sound like infant cries, but in fact are not, as the dual Michaels have suggested. For example, I should like to offer instead of the word "Infant" the word "Auditory." Also since not all ferrets necessarily offer a confirmed response to an auditory stimulus, may I suggest the word "tendency." That is, some do and some don't respond, assuming they all are hearing unimpaired. If we put all this together, I should like to suggest that the economical (but limited) acronym FIRS be abandoned for the more definitive verbiage: Ferret Auditory Response Tendency Syndrome. If we submit this verbiage to acronymises, we arrive at the acronym, F A R T S. Oh dear - what have I done? Now we have an acronym that has onomatopoeia, or more nearly so than FIRS. Does not F A R T S suggest acoustic energy, a sound of sorts? Surely you must agree it does. However, we must guard against relating F A R T S to any olfactory(sniff sniff) perceptions, as some may want to do. Our org here Ferrets NorthWest, a ferret endowment, among other things, is dedicated to research, as well as rehabilitation, education & training, a society of sorts. Hence, the pursuit of F A R T S will henceforth receive a heightened priority in the Ferret Frolics/Olympics. We will test any and all ferrets submitted by their owners at the next olympics (last Sunday in June) in the newly coined olympic event F A R T S. The first three place winners will receive a Certificate of Ferret Merit with their ferret's specialty clearly defined on the Ferret Merit Certificate. This will be accomplished by the sounding of a screaming rabbit call, immediately behind the owner with his totally becalmed ferret in his arms. The response of the ferret will be intensely monitored, not only by the ferret's total bodily reaction, but also by measuring and recording the ferret's heart rate immediately prior to and following Der Frettchenlustbarkeitsfuerher's sounding one or more of his several wildlife predator calls. The ferret is to be becalmed immediately following its stimulation and heart rate monitoring (stethoscope) by offerings of tasty tidbits (i.e. Ferretone or equivalent). We hope to have one of the West's outstanding ferret veterinarians officiating at this endeavor: namely Doctor Skip Nelson of the Exotic Bird and Pet Clinic, along with his stethoscope, assuming he'll accept our invitation. Is this science or what? Ferret Endowment for Research, Rehabilitation, Education & Training Society, NorthWest, aka F E R R E T S NW. Edw Lipinski, Der Frettchenlustbarkeitsfuerher, wer vor Fruede jauchztet: "Frettcen Vergnuegen!" [G.] EL, the ferret frolics leader, who shouts joyfully: "Ferrets are Joyful!" [Posted in FML issue 2268]