NavList:

Alex wrote:

"They must be crazy!"

 

Crazy like a stuffed fox.

And:

"How can you sell live animals on e-bay?!"

 

If it were live, I might bid. Kinda cute. But kinda creepy since it's a manufactured feline replica!

And:

"How do they "ship her worldwide"??"

 

FedEx, obviously. You put the kitty in one of their Tyvek packs. Seal it. Poke a few holes for air. And then toss it in the drop-off box.

 

.....

 

But I enjoyed the story of Trim nonetheless. It was new to me. Apparently he's very popular. You can "buy" him in a more appropriate fashion here:

(scroll down to the t-shirts)

 

And here's a childrens' version of his tale from none other than the National Maritime Museum/Greenwich Royal Observatory web site:

 

And finally on Trim and Lunars in Flinders' own words:

" Trim took a fancy to nautical astronomy. When an officer took lunar or other observations, he would place himself by the time-keeper, and consider the motion of the hands, and apparently the uses of the instrument, with much earnest attention; he would try to touch the second hand, listen to the ticking, and walk all around the piece to assure himself whether or no it might not be a living animal. And mewing to the young gentleman whose business it was to mark down the time, seemed to ask an explanation. When the officer had made his observation, the cry of Stop! roused Trim from his meditation; he cocked his tail, and running up the rigging near to the officer, mewed to know the meaning of all those proceedings. Finding at length that nature had not designed him for an astronomer, Trim had too much good sense to continue a useless pursuit..."

 

All hail Google.