ALBINISM

Eric writes...

All right Jim, here's another for you: Why is an animal born an albino? And could an animal be part albino? I mean some of it's skin is white and other parts are the normal color?

There are many sources of information about ALBINO ANIMALS on the web. This is an excerpt from one page that answers your question.

"Albinism is due to one of several gene mutations that affect the production of normal pigmentation. True albino animals lack melanin and are white with no markings and with unpigmented pink eyes. In some species there is also a form known as blue-eyed (or "partial") albinism. There are also various degrees of patchy albinism where only part of the body is affected."

There used to be a great example of patchy albinism right by your house. For several years there was a crow that was all white with black eyes and a small black patch on one of it's wings, that lived near the intersection of Sappinton and Manchester roads.