[rosalind dna (OP)]

Doc Beaver your beaver cousins have returned to Scotland from Norway. All European beavers, Of Course

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7739437.stm

[DoctorBeaver]

I am aware of the re-introduction of beavers into Scotland and have been associated with the plan for the past 4 years.

[Kenwood04]

I had no idea that it was so long since beavers were in Scotland (therefore the uk in general??) why did they "emigrate" all that time ago? 

I guess there will always be the gloom doomers, but now, when salmon is mostly farmed or comes from overseas, is there a real worry about the salmon stocks?

[JimBob]

YES - farmed Atlantic salmon has levels of many chemicals and elements, including mercury, that in quantities of greater than on or two servings a month, could be damaging to ones health.

[DoctorBeaver]

Beavers pose no danger to salmon. Unless the salmon headbutt a beaver dam, of course  []

[RD]

There are already many beavers in Scotland: beaver sporrans...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://www.sporrans.com/evenbeav.html

[Make it Lady]

What is with the sporran fixation RD?

Beavers didn't emigrate to Norway. They were all kidnapped by vikings who greatly admired the Scottish Beaver as they were much more luxuriant than the ones back home.

[RD]

What is with the sporran fixation RD?

I find the image of a person wearing a handbag which looks like a merkin over their groin, rather amusing.


 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[blakestyger]

What is with the sporran fixation RD?

Beavers didn't emigrate to Norway. They were all kidnapped by vikings who greatly admired the Scottish Beaver as they were much more luxuriant than the ones back home.

Precisely - the Norwegians then went on to invent the sporran or grojnmørkin as they called it. []

[rosalind dna (OP)]

The sporran is an attachment for the kilt(s) as they do not have
any pockets so it's like a wallet/purse. But no beaver fur/skin
would be used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporran

[blakestyger]

But no beaver fur/skin would be used.

Traditional sporrans used leather and fur. Check this one out:

http://www.morrison-sporrans.co.uk/sporrans/enlarge.aspx?Img=Semi%20Formal%207&PartNo=SF7&Info=Very%20traditional%20Head%20Sporran%20in%20Musquash.&Page=Semi%20Dress%20Sporran

Despite their claim I doubt that's a traditional Scottish design though and thankfully now 'alternative fur' is available. Typically, the 'lets celticise everything not-English' brigade have added their wretched (non-authentic) celtic knots to them.

[DoctorBeaver]

The Celts didn't even invent kilts! Or bagpipes. Or haggis. Or whisky. Or even freckles!  []

[rosalind dna (OP)]

The Celts didn't even invent kilts! Or bagpipes. Or haggis. Or whisky. Or even freckles!  []

I know that, Doc because it was actually the Victorians who invented the kilts & sporrans.
Yes they did invent whisky.
Unless you mean the Irish version of this distilled alcoholic drink, Whiskey. take note the extra "E"

[DoctorBeaver]

Whisky was first brewed in China thousands of years ago.

Tartan kilts were worn by some Central European tribes over 1,500 years ago.

[Make it Lady]

I love all this who REALLY invented stuff. My favorite is Morris Dancing. Everyone thinks Morris dancing is British but it was invented by the Moors, Moorish dancing see. Good eh! I love it. Fish and chips...Jewish. Punch and Judy...Italian.

[DoctorBeaver]

Oh dear, you poor, misguided MIL(f). You almost got it right.

The term probably derives from Moresca, a festival initiated by Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille to celebrate their having driven the Moors out of Spain. So, although there is a connection with Moors, it was not the Moors who originated the dance.

The name then spread throughout Europe in various guises including Morris in England.

[Make it Lady]

I wave my hanky and shake my bells at you. Are you a secret morris dancer, Beaver, I'd like to see that.

[DoctorBeaver]

Are you a secret morris dancer, Beaver...

No, I just happen to have an almost incalculably vast knowledge of music  [^]

[RD]

The sporran is an attachment for the kilt(s) as they do not have any pockets so it's like a wallet/purse.
But no beaver fur/skin would be used.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_mask.html

[DoctorBeaver]

Does RD stand for "Really Daring"?  [!]