Although in comments Dr. Gee hints that my alma mater Cambridge has something to say about my academic achievements (I don’t know why, I was a most indifferent student in sensuo stricto, although I hope I did not subsequently disgrace them) I am honoured, honoured to accept the Best Twit The French/Science Joke on the Internet recently award. A competitive field, I have no doubt.

In a previous post, I mentioned that Mr Highfield, science editor of The Daily Telegraph, had written that starlings know when humans are watching them. A trait that developed in France, I hazarded.

For our correspondents abroad who may not be wholly aware, the French have a habit of shooting and consuming aves of any size. They will blaze away at mere wrens with something that would not have been out of place on the gundeck of a line of battle ship at – ahem – Trafalgar, and take a particular delight preparing and eating the ortolan in a manner that may raise the eyebrows.

Therefore it may be to a French starling’s advantage to know when a M’sieu is bringing a beady eye and duck-gun loaded with scrap iron to bear.

My eyebrows are not raised: as anyone who has read The Voyage of the Beagle knows I shot and trenched my way round the world. I fear I and my fellow HMS Beagle shipmates may be partly responsible for Lonesome George’s current, and biologically terminal frustrations (we ate a few of his kind), so am in no position to cast stones.