shamus@bcsaic.UUCP (Steven McBride) (12/23/87)
A question was posted to the newsgroup on the meaning of 'jizz'.
Christopher Leahy in his book "The Birdwatchers Companion" offers the
following definition:
JIZZ: A distinctive physical "attitude", totally apart from any
specific field mark, which may help in certain critical field
identifications. It is essentially an amalgam of shape, posture, and
behavior. Knowledge of a species' jizz comes only after long experience
with it and that of similar species in the field. In some cases, it is
more reliable than rote observation of detail. The use of jizz is
crucial, for example, to the skillful discrimination of diurnal raptors
in flight. The origin of the term is uncertain; perhaps a corruption of
"gestalt". [The Birdwatchers Companion, Christopher Leahy, (c) 1982.]
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I've found "The Birdwatchers Companion" a very informative book for the
casual birder (me). It's an encyclopedic style volume crammed with all kinds
of information (e.g., highest recorded bird flight: 36,000 feet). I picked
up a copy from one of those publishing clearing houses for about $9.
--
Opinions expressed are strictly my own:
Shamus Mc Bride uucp: uw-beaver!uw-june!bcsaic!shamus
(206) 865-3401 internet: shamus@boeing.commclark@suntri.UUCP (Michael Clark ) (12/29/87)
The the term jizz originated, I believe, with military pilots, who are taught to identify aircraft (enemy and other) by their GIS, or General Impression and Shape. Michael Clark Sun Microsystems Cary, NC