Dr. Grordbort's : Nandy Duke

In the pink

The specimens all have quite obvious individual markings, demonstrating their genuine provenance,... Read more.

The specimens all have quite obvious individual markings, demonstrating their genuine provenance, and are finely displayed in a sturdy case. Firstly, lets discus the case. It is made of real, sturdy wood (none of your Venusian Worm Wood here), with a very nice finish, and it feels solidly made. It has two brass hangers attached to the top, and a perspex frontage, which I imagine seals in a Venusian atmosphere to maintain the sample in peak condition. As such, the case cannot be easily opened.

The case is surprisingly thick, to house the specimen comfortably. It has a small plaque made of imitation metal with the Grordbort's logo at the bottom. The rear of the case is sealed with heavy parchment-type paper, and stamped, numbered and signed by Head Lackey Broadmore. The paper shows the signs and stains of either aging or incontinence.

The actual specimen is handsomely mounted on quality paper, with the specimen name and the person who collected it (Sir Jamie Beswarick) written in copperplate, and a tasteful stamped golden Grordbort's logo.

The sample is mounted in place by a sturdy pin, although suspect some glue behind the wings may be involved as well. Perhaps the pin is just to ensure it really is dead.

The pin is placed through the central metallic-blue coloured section of the body.

The description by Dr Grordbort's is: "The Nandy Duke, discovered on Venus in 1919 by discredited biologist, Sir Hubert Remington Nandy is famed for its vivid pink skin pigment and delicately subtle patterning." It is definitely very pink, but with electric blue highlights, and white stripes at the base of the tail. Even the five eyes have a pinkish hue.

Below the body are what can only be described as "pink furry parts", a striped area coated with fine pink hairs. These surround what may be a tube-shaped entrance to a cloaca-like organ.

Below these furry bits is a complex tail, which consists two wings and blue coloured appendages, also coated in fine pink hairs.

The splendid spotted wings are the main feature of the Nandy Duke, each one having a unique pattern of spots. They seem slightly translucent as well. Like the tail, the wings also have many fine lines in their surface, and prominent veins.

Finally, atop the wings are a pair of subtlety coloured metallic blue antennae.

All in all, I am extremely impressed by the Nandy Duke. It is beautifully modelled, painted (by Dordi Moen) and presented, and is much more impressive in the flesh than I expected from the images. I never thought to buy one before, but I may now be on the hunt for a Xenodefugio Subtilis!

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