Re: Microraptor biplanes?

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

frank bliss wrote:
> 
> Are the big stomachs a reflection of the buddist chinese influence or
> just a lot of fast food and fermenting berries?  I take it you are in
> the BAD column since you are doing BAD art.  Seriously though, would
> the bald stomach be useful in brooding eggs or should there be some
> down down there?  Short of an African Grey Parrot I used to have that
> would pluck himself bald, is there a modern analogue of the bald belly
> extant?

It just so happens that the October page of the calendar on my wall
shows a grey fantail from the Northern Territory here in Australia
feeding its tiny chicks. It has a very prominent bald, pink belly. I
believe many birds pluck their belly feathers out while brooding, to
line the nest with them and to allow more efficient heat transfer to
incubate the eggs.

-- 
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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://heretichides.soffiles.com
Melbourne, Australia        http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
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