thank you very much for the input. i will try that next week. i have to admit though, it still spooks me, this striking thing...we used to have a small corn and he never really struck. he just sort of swallowed the fuzzy. very tame like. the first time vernon struck, my sons and i were startled (to put it mildly)...

but he is way to cool...!

thanks again!

ed in toronto