Albino?

Albino? Earl Plato

What a strange looking plant structure I saw last Fall. Albertine Stranges sent me a great close up photo this January of the fungus that grew at the front of her Parkway home in Chippawa. Pie-shaped it can grow up to 40 cm. across! Catathelasma imperiale, it is known as the Commander. We read that this double ringed fungus according to the Peterson guide is edible. Not for this writer.
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Have you heard of the albino buck deer of Rosehill and west in Fort Erie.? Well ther’s more than one out there. Steve Gamble of Lyon’s Creek reported recently to me that a buck and a doe near his property were almost all white. Albinism is the lack of melanin that creates colour in the animal’s system and that includes humans. Albinos have white hair or fur and pink eyes caused by the absence of pigment. Then I researched on the internet and read that some scientists say that all albinos are not pure white. Three calls from Niagata Falls in the northwest described deer that had brown rears or partially brown heads. Albinos? I would say so.
I hopefully am about to secure a photo of the majestic albino deer of Ridgeway.
Remember the white crow of Pelham a few years ago? We had albino mice and rabbits as children. Dogs, snakes, fish and monkeys can be albino too. Unfortunately albinism means the animal or human lacks protection against powerful sun rays. The result is often skin cancer and a shorthened life. An amomoly for sure and an unique opportunity to see an albino.