Wild haggis: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Haggis scoticus.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A fictional wild haggis specimen, ''Haggis scotticus'', as displayed in the Glasgow Kelvingrove gallery, next to a prepared example.<ref name=NYT/>]] |
[[Image:Haggis scoticus.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A fictional wild haggis specimen, ''Haggis scotticus'', as displayed in the Glasgow Kelvingrove gallery, next to a prepared example.<ref name=NYT/>]] |
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'''Wild haggis''' (''Haggis scoticus'') is |
'''Wild haggis''' (''Haggis scoticus'') is an ancient creature native to the [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]].<ref name=NYT>[http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/britain/scotland/glasgow/attraction-detail.html?vid=1154683241450 Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum] in the ''[[New York Times]]'', accessed February 9, 2009</ref><ref name=article/> It is comically claimed to be the source of [[haggis]], a traditional Scottish dish that is in fact made from the innards of [[sheep]] (including heart, lungs, and liver).<ref name=guardian/> |
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According to some sources, the wild haggis's left and right legs are of different lengths (cf. [[Sidehill gouger]] or [[Dahu]]), allowing it to run quickly around the steep mountains and hillsides which make up its natural habitat, but only in one direction.<ref name=article/><ref>[http://www.mahalo.com/Haggis Haggis] at mahalo.com, accessed February 9, 2009</ref> It is further claimed that there are two varieties of haggis, one with longer left legs and the other with longer right legs. The former variety can run clockwise around a mountain (as seen from above) while the latter can run <!-- per MOS please retain UK term anticlockwise, not US term counterclockwise --> anticlockwise.<ref>[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usfeatures/haggis/wildhaggis.html Wild Haggis] at Undiscovered Scotland.co.uk, accessed February 9, 2009</ref> The two varieties coexist peacefully but are unable to interbreed in the wild because in order for the male of one variety to mate with a female of the other, he must turn to face in the same direction as his intended mate, causing him to lose his balance before he can mount her. As a result of this difficulty, differences in leg length among the haggis population are accentuated.<ref name=article>A. M. King, L. Cromarty, C. Paterson, J. S. Boyd, "[http://www.maths.ed.ac.uk/~s0681349/Haggis.pdf Applications of ultrasonography in the reproductive management of Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati]" in ''The Veterinary Record'', January 20, 2007</ref> |
According to some sources, the wild haggis's left and right legs are of different lengths (cf. [[Sidehill gouger]] or [[Dahu]]), allowing it to run quickly around the steep mountains and hillsides which make up its natural habitat, but only in one direction.<ref name=article/><ref>[http://www.mahalo.com/Haggis Haggis] at mahalo.com, accessed February 9, 2009</ref> It is further claimed that there are two varieties of haggis, one with longer left legs and the other with longer right legs. The former variety can run clockwise around a mountain (as seen from above) while the latter can run <!-- per MOS please retain UK term anticlockwise, not US term counterclockwise --> anticlockwise.<ref>[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usfeatures/haggis/wildhaggis.html Wild Haggis] at Undiscovered Scotland.co.uk, accessed February 9, 2009</ref> The two varieties coexist peacefully but are unable to interbreed in the wild because in order for the male of one variety to mate with a female of the other, he must turn to face in the same direction as his intended mate, causing him to lose his balance before he can mount her. As a result of this difficulty, differences in leg length among the haggis population are accentuated.<ref name=article>A. M. King, L. Cromarty, C. Paterson, J. S. Boyd, "[http://www.maths.ed.ac.uk/~s0681349/Haggis.pdf Applications of ultrasonography in the reproductive management of Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati]" in ''The Veterinary Record'', January 20, 2007</ref> |
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Revision as of 10:41, 5 August 2011
Wild haggis (Haggis scoticus) is an ancient creature native to the Scottish Highlands.[1][2] It is comically claimed to be the source of haggis, a traditional Scottish dish that is in fact made from the innards of sheep (including heart, lungs, and liver).[3]
According to some sources, the wild haggis's left and right legs are of different lengths (cf. Sidehill gouger or Dahu), allowing it to run quickly around the steep mountains and hillsides which make up its natural habitat, but only in one direction.[2][4] It is further claimed that there are two varieties of haggis, one with longer left legs and the other with longer right legs. The former variety can run clockwise around a mountain (as seen from above) while the latter can run anticlockwise.[5] The two varieties coexist peacefully but are unable to interbreed in the wild because in order for the male of one variety to mate with a female of the other, he must turn to face in the same direction as his intended mate, causing him to lose his balance before he can mount her. As a result of this difficulty, differences in leg length among the haggis population are accentuated.[2]
Haggis abroad
The notion of the wild haggis is widely believed, though not always including the idea of mismatched legs. According to a survey released on 26 November 2003, one-third of U.S. visitors to Scotland believed the wild haggis to be a real creature.[3][6]
Influence on media
In an episode of River Cottage, the presenter, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall goes hunting for these haggis creatures in his quest to find true haggis to cook. The convincing locals in the episode never reveal what a haggis actually is, leading the viewers to wonder if he believed them.
In an episode of The Goodies, the three main characters were visiting Scotland and captured a haggis to eat, shortly before having an encounter with a bagpipe spider.
See also
References
- ^ a b Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the New York Times, accessed February 9, 2009
- ^ a b c A. M. King, L. Cromarty, C. Paterson, J. S. Boyd, "Applications of ultrasonography in the reproductive management of Dux magnus gentis venteris saginati" in The Veterinary Record, January 20, 2007
- ^ a b John Carvel, "Majestic haggis of the glens proves elusive for US tourists" in The Guardian, Thursday 27 November 2003 02.18
- ^ Haggis at mahalo.com, accessed February 9, 2009
- ^ Wild Haggis at Undiscovered Scotland.co.uk, accessed February 9, 2009
- ^ "US tourists want to hunt wild haggis" in the Sydney Morning Herald, November 27, 2003