Re: Feduccia's delusion...sorta heh.

[Paleo_Mont <paleo_mont@excite.com>]

DG
<< "The concept of dinosaurs as giant, ground-dwelling birds extends
historically back to at least the year 1802, well before the publication of
the first scientific description of a dinosaur (Megalosaurus, by the
Reverend William Buckland in 1824) and the recognition of Dinosauria as a
distinct "sub-order of reptiles" (by Sir Richard Owen in April 1842). >>
  
DV  
<<  Perhaps I'm being a little thick here, but how can you have a concept of
dinosaurs before there was a concept of dinosaurs? Shouldn't this read, "The
concept of dinosaur ichnites as being the tracks of giant, ground-dwelling
birds...
A subtle but huge difference. DV >>       
 
DG 
<<Whatever the trackmakers were, we now know they are dinosaurs, but in 1802
they were thought to be birds. So in 1802 dinosaurs were thought to be giant
birds. (Sometime before that, they were thought to be giant people.) They
weren't known as dinosaurs until 1842. What's the problem?>>

---

Well, the wording... is not the best choice. Because in 1802, there was no
such thing as a "Dinosaur", until 1842. Were as you say in 1802 your saying
that the Bird was a Dinosaur,(that did not exsist name wise at that time). 
So... that means there was no concept of a "Dinosaur" in the year of 1802.
Just this friggen huge bird that made the tracks. It wasnt until 1824/1842
that "Dinosaur" was termed. 1824/1842 and after those tracks became known as
Dinosaur tracks. No longer being bird tracks (because Dinosaurs now exsist
in the publications/literature).I believe that to be the problem with that
paragraph.  Or perhaps change it around to something like this? "The tracks
once described as being large giant land dwelling bird tracks in 1802 are
now concidered to be dinosaur tracks after the 1842/1842 publication by
William Buckland /Sir Richard Owen."  That make any sense to anyone?  Or did
I really fowl it up? (pun intended)

K.Wicks
Paleo Mont - www.geocities.com/paleo_mont
Paleo Mont Park - www.geocities.com/paleo_montpark





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