"An Armadillo from Amarillo..." 30 x 40 inches, acrylic on linen An Armadillo, from Amarillo Was seated upon a golden pillow His journey north Was brought henceforth By a warming clime And a booming bourse Australia is a land locked in time. A land that evolved over millions of years, with it's own unique flora and fauna. This living museum was under constant attack, since the day the first humans arrived. Not from Homo Sapiens directly, but from their guests they brought along! The Dingo (Australian native dog), rats, mice, then the settlers arrived, bringing with them rabbits, hares, foxes, dogs, cats and so on. The
Southwest of the USA is no exception as I came to learn… with an unexpected guest arriving in the last few decades. That nine banded scoundrel, from the north and central parts of South America, has been slowly winding his way north. Recent reports indicate sightings as far north as Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Perhaps our shifting climate has a role to play in our friend's
journey. Perhaps our burgeoning share market, fuelled by the great economic leap forward in China and India, has some part in the story. Or perhaps, we are all contributors, to this great taxonomic migration into a brave new world? Shane Gehlert | 
