Many people are aware that magpies often steal glittery objects, and other such trinkets with which to line their nests. Not so many people know that they also do a roaring trade in these objects to the jackdaws who lack both the insight and the bottle to orchestrate such thefts themselves.

Badgers are very much more intelligent than many people might suppose. Many of them have elaborate underground cities, complete with cinemas, theatres and hook-a-duck stalls.

Contrary to popular belief, empty cardboard boxes are in no way suitable for putting things in.

Scientists have recently revealed that the cavepeople of the northern hemisphere did not in fact live in caves, but instead made nests constructed entirely from small pieces of coal and chewed-up second-rate paperback detective novels.

Recent legislation in the United States has prohibhited the use of comedy glasses which consist of ordinary spectacle frames with fake eyes protruding on large springs.