RE:

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

> From: owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu [mailto:owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
> Robert J. Schenck
>
> Mr. Rey
> "I
> thought the Dial WAIR model was more widely
> accepted and I definitively accept that model
> much more than any of the others."
>
> But the WAIR model is built upon two feathered
> forelimgs, giving the organism a 'hold' to the
> slopping/vertical running surfaces.
> Is there are variation of WAIR that invovles the
> leg feathers/leg wing?

Not as yet.

>  If WAIR is the activity
> that most leads to flight in the evolution of
> birds, it requires that the legs be powerfully
> developed and devoted to running no?

Much as they are ancestrally, yes, yes it would.  I.e., it requires them to 
have theropod legs. Which they do.

> Any
> variations away from that, while still in the
> "WAIR Stage" would be deleterious to the organism
> no, it would interfere with WAIR no?

No. They wouldn't. I really wish people would get over this idea!!! (Colleagues 
included!)

They would presumably interfere with the rapid flexion and extension of the 
hindlimb much the way that the longer flight feathers of
modern birds prevent the rapid opening and closure of wings: i.e., not at all!

> Perhaps, of
> course, hindlimbs with flight feathers evolved
> after the "WAIR stage" of course.
> Plus, you should probably hope that Mr. Longrich
> is wrong no? YOu'll have to redo all those
> fascinating paintings, adding wing-legs!
>
Oh, he's woking on that!!

                Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
        Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology           Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland          College Park Scholars
        Mailing Address:
                Building 237, Room 1117
                College Park, MD  20742

http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:  301-405-4084    Email:  tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol):  301-314-9661       Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796