My greatest thanks.
I reread over the Net::DNS manpage, and sure enough under search() and query() it says:
"Returns a ... 'undef' if no answers were found".

I read this to mean if the server was unable to respond (server answer) rather than in the ANSWER section.
Either its not very clear, or I'm not not very sharp.

Many thanks,
JP

-- Alexander Widdlemouse undid his bellybutton and his bum dropped off --