Rudolph

[JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE]

>Since Rudolph was not allowed to play in any reindeer games
>(undoubtably a precursor to mating), and without local hero
>status continually reenforced, his genetic material will not be
>passed on.

How do you know it is not a case of Rudolph spending time
with the does while the other bucks were busy playing
reindeer-football?

>What about increased susceptibility to predation?  I would think such
>mutants would be much more obvious to large carnivores, and suffer higher
>mortality rates.

But in human-inhabited areas, the glowing red nose would
help him be noticed by on-coming vehicles and hence avoid becoming
the main course at the Roadkill Cafe (honest: there really is
a restaurant by that name in Greenville, Maine!).

!Feliz Navidad!

--
Dr. Joseph E. Laferriere
"Computito ergo sum ...  I link therefore I am."