Re: Origin of feathers

["Matthew Troutman" <m_troutman@hotmail.com>]

<<I lived in the Sonoran desert of Arizona for a few years. One day I 
was lucky enough to observe a roadrunner stalk, fight and kill a 
rattlesnake.  Roadrunners (_Geococcyx californianus_) aren't well 
adapted for flight, but the way they use their tail and wings during 
hunting is remarkable. In the attack I witnessed, the roadrunner used 
its foot-long tail as a combination rudder and flap, swiveling it in 
order to change course, or raising it upright to use as a brake. The 
wings were outstreched during the attack, beating to fluster the snake 
and often to thrust the bird upwards or sideways a few feet out of 
striking range.>>

     Roadrunners mainly use their wings for scaring their prey. Though 
they do use their forelimbs occasionally for steering, it must be 
remembered that they still do fly and sort of go into half-way flight 
when running.

Matt Troutman

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