Flight of fancy (formerly, Origins of Flight)

["Jonathan Malia" <jmalia@hotmail.com>]

>To those of us poor benighted fools who see flight as having evolved in
gradual stages, flapping flight was preceded by gliding and steering 
which
was preceded by parachuting and steering.  "Parachuting" is used in a
relative sense here of course, and simply requires an increase in drag.  
It
would have been an essential precursor to the whole sequence, but would
actually have meant just an increase in interaction with the air, which
eventually became more specialised.<

It's difficult for me to accept that the origin of flight in birds could 
be traced to aboreal dinosaurs that couldn't keep from falling out of 
trees. That's quite a leap, if you know what I mean.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com