New Statesman -- counting legs -- January 10 deadline
 

No 4259
Set by Helen Cox
In ancient times, a revered natural philosopher ponders why birds have two legs, mammals four, insects six, spiders eight, and so on.
Max 150 words by 10 January comp@newstatesman.co.uk

eh?
 

Jesus wept, what kind of a comp is that? Merry Xmas, one & all.

What kind indeed? I suppose the phrase "and so on" means right up to the millipede.

Probably another one to add to my growing pile of "NS comps I shan't be entering".

Happy Christmas to everyone, even the millipedes.

Once again I am reminded why I have never done an N S comp.
Happy Christmas, Sphereans.

What happened to that NS comp for the opening of a novel written by a composer? I thought my entry was pretty stunning. Now I can't even find the competition listed.

Gail, here it is.

I think I rather like this one.

I shall wait to see what you do, George.

(Despite having said earlier that i would shun this one, I changed my mind. I may have to join "Competitors Anonymous".)

Francis Bacon

'Tis said that a garden is a lovesome thing; yet within it are unlovesome creatures, such as that Centipede which envenomed me yesterday.

What was God's purpose in creating this multitude of limbs? Might there be a relation between the number of legs, and their owner's station in God's scheme, whereby the fewer its appendages, the higher its place in the natural order?

Centipedes, then, are inferior to the eight-legged Spider, whose ingenious webs betoken a certain cunning, while the social organization of the six-legged Ant represents a further advance.

Four-legged beasts such as the Horse, although incapable of reason, manifest undeniable signs of intelligence.

Thus we arrive at Mankind, possessing but two legs, yet the pinnacle of God's creation.

All this I set out for Will Shakespeare, he being in his cups. "I'faith", he mumbled, "then I am the noblest of God's creatures, for tonight I am legless!"

Shakes scores again, Brian.